CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Listed Buildings

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of English Heritage in relation to listed buildings.

Kim Howells: English Heritage's statutory duty is to secure the preservation of buildings of historical importance. They advise the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about historic buildings meriting statutory protection and advise Government and planning authorities about requests for permission to demolish or alter protected buildings. They also give grant aid for the repair of listed buildings.

National Stadium

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when a decision will be made regarding the national stadium project.

Tessa Jowell: As I explained to the House in my statement on 7 May I have agreed to the Football Association's request to delay the Government's final decision on support for the national stadium until the current commercial negotiations between the FA and their bankers are concluded. Those discussions continue to make good progress.

Sport and Leisure Facilities

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions about conducting a national audit of sport and leisure facilities; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I discussed the proposed database of sports facilities in England with a number of my ministerial colleagues, including those from the DfES and the DTLR, at the last meeting of the Inter-departmental Group on Sport in February.
	I have also written to my ministerial colleagues at the DfES and the DTLR, along with those from the Department of Health, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence, seeking their views on the scope and content of the proposed database of sports facilities in England.

Social Deprivation (Amenities)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress her Department has made in the use of sports, arts and culture in tackling social deprivation in the poorest communities.

Richard Caborn: Tackling social deprivation is at the heart of the Department's activity. Our work is focusing on four strategic priorities: promoting lifelong learning and social cohesion by opening up institutions to the wider community; enhancing access to a fuller cultural and sporting life for children and young people; maximising the contribution which creative and leisure industries can make to the economy; and modernising delivery, ensuring that our sponsored bodies put the needs of the customer first.

Sport (Ethnic Minority Participation)

Piara S Khabra: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the efforts being made at the grassroots level to increase ethnic minority participation and representation in sport.

Richard Caborn: The Government are anxious to ensure that sport is accessible to all members of society, irrespective of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socioeconomic status, and remain committed to improving opportunities for those groups which are under-represented in sport, whether as participants, competitors, coaches or administrators.
	There are a number of schemes and programmes aimed at those traditionally under-represented in sport; these include Sport England's Active Communities Programme, which targets ethnic minorities as one of its priority groups, and the Sporting Equals Programme, which receives £180,000 a year from the Government and the Commission for Racial Equality towards promoting sporting opportunities for ethnic minorities.

Film Industry

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the impact of the Budget on the film industry.

Tessa Jowell: It was announced in the Budget that the film tax relief will be restricted to films intended for the commercial cinema only, and that television production will no longer be able to access the relief. The relief was originally intended to help build a sustainable film industry and there has been a general acceptance that this is a necessary refocussing of the relief.

Digital Broadcasting

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure choice of access for digital broadcasting services.

Kim Howells: The draft Communications Bill and associated documents (Cm 5508, published on 7 May), set out a proposed framework for the regulation of communications, which is intended to broaden choice of and access to modern communications technologies, and to make markets work better.

Digital Broadcasting

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definitions of (a) access, (b) availability and (c) affordability the Government will use to determine when analogue switch-off will take place; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: One of the key tasks of the Digital Television Action Plan is for Government to conduct a comprehensive review of progress towards digital switchover with particular reference to the accessibility, availability and affordability tests announced in September 1999. The Review will refine the tests and report on how progress towards meeting them is to be measured.

Digital Broadcasting

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many digital television sets were sold in the last financial year; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Industry figures indicate that 120,000 integrated digital television sets were sold in the 12 months until the end of March. As part of the Digital Action Plan, the Government will be comprehensively investigating with industry and the European Union the issues surrounding the transition to exclusive sales of integrated digital television sets. Because of our international agreements, the UK alone could not mandate the sale of integrated digital television sets.

Digital Broadcasting

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of digital switchover on the BBC licence fee.

Kim Howells: The Government increased the BBC licence fee in 2000 in recognition of the BBC's role in the development of digital broadcasting services. The annual increase is set until 2006 when the charter is due for renewal. The effect of changing media markets on the licence fee will be one of the issues we consider as part of the charter review process.

Gaming Machines

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the recommendations on gaming machines in the Budd report.

Richard Caborn: We published a safe bet for success on 26 March. This sets out the Government's decisions on the recommendations for reform of the law on gambling which were made by the Gambling Review Body last summer. We took careful account of all the points made in public consultation on the report before reaching our conclusions.

Museums (North-East)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her support for museums in the north-east of England.

Tessa Jowell: My Department directly provides support to the Tyne and Wear Museums to the sum of £1 million per year. Resource, the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives will provide funding to the North East Museum, Libraries and Archives Council to the tune of £745,000 in 2002–03.
	Resource has now received bids from each English region, including the North East, to be considered for selection as regional hubs in accordance with the recommendations of the Regional Museums task force as set out in the report Renaissance in the Regions: a new vision for England's museums which was published last October. My Department are currently working with Resource to start implementing the task force recommendations with £10 million per annum which was given to Resource in the last spending review.
	We will take the task force's recommendations into account in the current spending review alongside other priorities.

Tourism

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to promote tourism in the west midlands region.

Kim Howells: My Department is currently considering options on how to provide stronger co-ordination of the promotion and marketing of England, including a strong regional dimension and we hope to announce our plans shortly.
	Tourism in the west midlands region has recently benefited from £2 million funding from Advantage West Midlands (AWM) regional development agency (RDA). £1.1 million was spent on a recent national marketing campaign "Head to the Heart", promoted by the Heart of England Tourist Board (HETB), which principle aim is to attract more visitors to the region.

Tourism

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives from the English Tourism Council to discuss tourism in the south-east.

Kim Howells: I have been in close contact with the chairman of the English Tourism Council about the proposed merger between the south east and southern tourist boards. They also hold regular meetings to discuss issues of national and regional significance, the most recent being on 29 April. The Minister also met Joan Patten, chair of the south east tourist board, on 11 April.

Tourism

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Government funding provided to each region is for tourism marketing.

Kim Howells: Over half of the £3.8 million obtained last year from the reserve to assist the domestic recovery of tourism from foot and mouth disease was passed via the English Tourism Council (ETC) to the 10 regional tourist boards (RTBs). Much of that money was used for promotional and PR activities.
	Other central Government funding provided to the RTBs via the ETC is for the delivery of the national tourism strategy at regional level—that does not include money for domestic marketing. The RTBs are mainly private companies and use some of their membership fee and commercial income for regional marketing initiatives. In some regions, the Regional Development Agencies have also supported tourism marketing with Government funds and a substantial part of over £90 million spent by local authorities on tourism is also used for promotional activities.

Football

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the football authorities on the financial position of Nationwide League football clubs.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have remained in close touch with the Nationwide League and the Football Association since it was announced that ITV Digital was to go into administration, and met the league's management on 17 April. The Government will now work with the working group appointed by the FA's chief executive to consider how affected football clubs might be helped to secure their futures.

Football

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to football-based schemes levels in the coalfields.

Richard Caborn: Funding from public sources for football is channelled through the Football Foundation. The Foundation's grass roots, community and education, and stadium safety funding programmes are not geographically targeted. They are designed to address lack of provision in England wherever it exists. However, the Foundation has indicated that it considers local levels of economic deprivation, among other issues, in assessing applications for funding.

Regional Theatre

Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government are taking to support theatre in the regions.

Tessa Jowell: This is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the Regional Arts Boards. From 1 April this year the Arts Council is investing an additional £12 million in theatre increasing to £25 million a year from 2003–04, as a result of its extensive review of the needs of regional theatre. Funding for the New Wolsey in Ipswich will increase from £322,750 last year to £492,750 in 2003–04, an increase over two years of 53 per cent.

Public Libraries

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the role public libraries play within the Government's culture plan.

Tessa Jowell: Two of the key strategic priorities I have set for my Department are developing children and young people and building stronger communities through participation in the arts and culture. Public libraries have a major role to play in both of these and I intend to publish a policy document in the autumn setting out how they will contribute.

British Grand Prix

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies her Department has undertaken to ensure the continuation of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Richard Caborn: I met representatives of Octagon Motorsports, Sir Jackie Stewart, the Motor Sports Association, the British Racing Drivers' Club and other interested parties on 11 December 2001 and 24 January 2002 to discuss proposals for improving arrangements for the 2002 British Grand Prix, as well as wider proposals for the long term development of Silverstone. New access roads are under construction to improve access to and from the Silverstone circuit for future years. My officials are working closely with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, the Government Office of the East Midlands and the Highways Agency. I am receiving monthly reports on the progress of access improvements to Silverstone.
	I also met Max Mosley, President of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile, on 12 December 2001 to inform him of the Government's commitment to motor sport and the British Grand Prix.

Sports Action Zones (Cumbria)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the performance of sports action zones in west Cumbria.

Richard Caborn: A Sport Action Zone manager was appointed in September 2000 and a Needs Assessment and Action Plan was compiled in the first year of the Zone's operation, covering the period 2001–2006. This plan was approved at the Sport Lottery panel in October 2001. Approximately £230,000 per annum was ring- fencing over the five year period across the Allerdale, Barrow and Copeland districts. The projects in the Year One action plan have received ring-fenced funding and are in various stages of development, depending on match-funding sources and lead organisations' time scales.
	The Sport Action Zone is being overseen by the six strategic partners including Allerdale Borough Council and Copeland Borough Council.
	The Sport Action Zone partnership is looking into marketing and evaluation reports, which will be publicly available when they are produced.

Hotel Industry

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make funding available for marketing the English hotel industry.

Kim Howells: The marketing of hotels is a matter for the industry itself but the announcement today will have a beneficial impacts on all sectors of the industry in England. The English Tourism Council has made considerable progress in extending its quality assurance schemes to all types of accommodation. Hotels and others that commit to the national quality standards benefit since the quality assurance fee entitles them to a free entry in the ETC's 'Where to Stay' guidebooks and entry on the BTA's VisitBritain website.

Pride of Place

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if it is intended to place on sale copies of Pride of Place;
	(2)  pursuant to the answers of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1039W, and 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 785W, what the intended destination is of the copies of Pride of Place that are not being sent out as complimentary copies to award recipients.

Kim Howells: 4,000 copies of Pride of Place will be available for sale through the Arts Council at £12 each.

Works of Art (Indemnities)

Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many indemnity undertakings were given under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980 for the six-month period ended 31 March; and what the value was of (a) contingent liabilities in respect of such undertakings given at any time under that section which remained outstanding as at 31 March, (b) non-statutory Government indemnities in respect of loans handled by the Government Art Collection which remained outstanding as at 31 March and (c) non-statutory undertakings of Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection which remained outstanding at 31 March.

Kim Howells: holding answer 9 May 2002
	The provision for the Government Indemnity Scheme is made by the National Heritage Act 1980. The scheme facilitates public access to loans of works of art and other objects for public display made to museums, galleries and other such institutions by private owners and non-national institutions. It does this by indemnifying lenders against loss or damage to their loan. Loans covered by the scheme must be for public benefit. The scheme also covers loans of such objects for study purposes within borrowing institutions where this would contribute materially to the public's understanding or appreciation of the loan. Examples of this are enhancing interpretation or explanation to the public of objects or bringing into the public domain, the conclusions of any study.
	In the six-month period ended 31 March, the following undertakings to indemnify were given under section 16 by the relevant Departments for objects on loan to national and non-national institutions:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 629 
			 Scottish Executive Education Department 258 
			 The National Assembly for Wales 114 
		
	
	The value of contingent liabilities in respect of undertakings given at any time under section 16 and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Department for Culture, Media and Sport 2,466,655,792 
			 Scottish Executive Education Department 467,275,161 
			 The National Assembly for Wales 45,990,729 
		
	
	The value of non-statutory Government indemnities to cover loans handled by the Government Art Collection and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:
	Value: £5,500,000.
	The value of non-statutory undertakings given to Her Majesty in respect of loans from the Royal Collection and which remained outstanding as at 31 March is:
	Value: £219,601,825.

Party Conferences

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent organising events at (a) the Labour party's, (b) the Conservative party's and (c) the Liberal Democrat party's (i) autumn and (ii) spring conference in each of the past five years; what the purpose of events organised at party conferences is; what form these events took; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: No events have been organised by this Department at party conferences.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Illegal Logging (Indonesia)

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1064W, what the timetable is for negotiations with Indonesia to tackle illegal logging and associated trade; and when agreement will be reached.

Michael Meacher: The Governments of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Indonesia signed on 18 April 2002 a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation to improve Forest Law Enforcement and Governance and to combat illegal logging and the international trade in illegally logged timber and timber products. We are placing a copy of the Memorandum in the Library of the House.

Farming

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments were made in each of the last five years broken down by (a) scheme, (b) county and (c) farm size, for (i) the countryside stewardship scheme, (ii) arable stewardship (up to 2000), (iii) the energy crops scheme, (iv) the environmentally sensitive areas, (v) the farm woodland premium scheme, (vi) the hill farm allowance scheme, (vii) the organic farming scheme, (viii) the woodland grant scheme, (ix) the processing and marketing grant, (x) the rural enterprise scheme and (xi) the vocational training scheme.

Alun Michael: The following table shows expenditure on the England Rural Development Programme schemes for the last five years. A further breakdown by county or farm size is not readily available.
	
		Payments by scheme for five years—England -- £000
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Countryside stewardship 15,708 19,896 23,359 28,890 47,326 
			 Arable stewardship — — 470 863 1,500 
			 Energy crops scheme — — — — 234 
			 Environmentally sensitive areas 28,600 37,600 39,500 40,900 48,300 
			 Farm woodland premium 4,700 5,400 5,900 6,000 7,500 
			 Hill farm allowance — — — — 42,346 
			 Organic farming scheme 700 1,200 2,300 15,400 26,600 
			 Woodland grant scheme 15,723 18,151 18,416 16,957 16,590 
			 Processing and marketing grant — — — — 237 
			 Rural enterprise scheme — — — — 573 
			 Vocational training scheme — — — — 332

Farming

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total area of genetically modified crops to be grown in the farm scale evaluations in England in 2002 is; and how many trials there are for (a) spring oilseed rape, (b) winter oilseed rape, (c) fodder beet, (d) sugar beet and (e) fodder maize.

Michael Meacher: The total area to be grown with GM crops in the farm scale evaluations in England to date is approximately 400 hectares. In autumn 2001, 30 oilseed rape sites were sown. This year, there are 22 spring oilseed rape sites, 33 maize sites, six fodder beet sites and 12 sugar beet sites. The proposed site locations for the 2002 round of winter oilseed rape will be announced later this year.

Farming

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the data from the farm-scale evaluations of GM crops will be available for the advisers in ACRE and ACP; and when she will publish the data.

Michael Meacher: Data from the farm-scale evaluations will be available to this Department, to advisers on the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, and the wider public generally, once we have received the advice of the scientific steering committee overseeing the progress and publication of the ecological studies and the results are published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. This is anticipated to be in the summer of 2003 for spring-sown crops (spring-sown oilseed rape, maize and beet) and in summer 2004 for winter-sown oilseed rape.

Farming

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce her decision on the proposals put forward by the Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology Commission for public debate on the possible commercialisation of GM Crops.

Michael Meacher: The Government welcome the AEBC's advice on the proposal for a public debate on the possible commercialisation of GM crops. AEBC has provided an important contribution which the Government are considering. We will announce our response as soon as possible.

Sustainable Environmental Schemes

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has made to HM Treasury in advance of the Comprehensive Spending Review on funding to assist the transition from direct subsidies to sustainable environmental schemes; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has submitted advice and proposals to my right hon. Friend, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Andrew Smith), as he is in charge of other spending Departments. The proposals are consistent with the Government's policy of promoting a sustainable, diverse, modern and adaptable farming industry. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced in Parliament in due course.

Waste Regulations

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what levels of (a) business packaging waste recovery and (b) business packaging recycling in the United Kingdom were in each year since 1997; what assessment has been made of how the United Kingdom compares with Europe; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Packaging waste recovery and recycling achieved by businesses obligated under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) from 1997 to 2001 was as follows:
	
		Recovery and Recycling 1998–2001
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Paper (1)n/a 1,894,086 1,820,732 1,880,414 2,030,944 
			 Glass — 503,800 582,577 715,037 735,594 
			 Aluminium — 14,517 15,402 16,299 29,030 
			 Steel — 182,409 225,216 238,668 278,079 
			 Plastic — 125,539 198,461 204,430 269,962 
			 Wood — 170,000(1) 94,000(1) 296,437 573,951 
			 Alt. evidence — — — — 30,741 
			 Total recycling — 2,890,351 3,084,296(2) 3,351,285 3,917,560 
			 Percentage (2)27 28 33.5 36.5 42 
			 EfW — 448,354 496,269 500,047 513,939 
			 Total recovery  3,338,705 3,506,611 3,851,332 4,462,240 
			 Percentage (2)30 33 38 42 48 
			 Tonnes in waste stream — 10,240,000 9,189,981 9,179,981 9,313,900 
		
	
	(1) Breakdown by material not available for 1997
	(2) Approximate
	The UK's current recovery and recycling rates of 48 per cent. and 42 per cent. have been achieved in the four years from 1998 to 2001. Other member states began focusing on packaging waste recovery/recycling in the early 1990s. A number of them have achieved much higher recovery/ recycling rates while others remain close to or just above the UK rate.
	Figures from the European Commission show the following recovery and recycling rates for European Union member states in 1998.
	
		Recovery and recycling rates in member states 1998 -- Percentage
		
			  Recovery rate Recycling rate 
		
		
			 Austria 70 65 
			 Belgium 73 64 
			 Denmark 89 50 
			 France 56 45 
			 Germany 67 65 
			 Italy 35 28 
			 Netherlands 62 62 
			 Spain 37 34 
			 Sweden 68 61 
			 UK 33 28 
		
	
	Source:
	European Commission

Waste Regulations

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps her Department is taking to review the notice period on annual targets under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason the targets for packaging and packaging waste for 2002 did not appear until 19 March; when she expects to publish targets for 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: We make every effort to publish the annual targets for recovery and recycling of packaging waste as early in the year as possible. Businesses have an opportunity to plan on the basis of the proposals and analysis in the consultation exercise carried out in the previous year. However, where the Government do not have the latest relevant packaging data until the end of a year, this means that it is not always possible to decide on the final targets for the following year to our intended timing.
	It is too early to say when we might publish targets for 2003. However, it is the Government's intention to consult this year on targets for 2003 and 2004.

Waste Regulations

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations her Department has received (a) between September and December 2001 and (b) since 1 January regarding the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: We liaise regularly with industry and receive a good deal of correspondence relating to the packaging Regulations. The period in question covers the consultation exercise undertaken on proposed packaging waste targets for 2002. The consultation document was issued in September 2001 and 66 responses were received to this alone. Since January 2002, we have received about 70 letters relating to packaging waste matters.

Nitrate-Sensitive Areas

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many nitrate-sensitive areas have been designated.

Michael Meacher: There are 66 nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZs) in England, which were designated in 1996.
	In December 2001, in response to a European Court of Justice judgment, we consulted on options for completing implementation of the nitrates directive in England. These would involve either designating additional nitrate vulnerable zones, or applying measures to prevent and control nitrate pollution throughout England.
	We are still considering the responses to this consultation, and will announce a decision in due course.

Flooding

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government are taking to ensure that sustainable urban drainage systems are adopted and maintained by water companies.

Michael Meacher: A Working Group chaired by the Environment Agency and comprising representatives of this Department and other interested parties has been set up to consider all aspects of the use of sustainable urban drainage systems. Among other things, it will be considering future responsibilities for installation and maintenance of such systems, including the extent of water and sewerage companies' responsibilities.

Waste Composting

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if her Department plans to allow local authorities to count domestic composting towards their recycling targets; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: We have no plans to allow local authorities to count domestic composting towards their recycling targets.
	Local authorities benefit in two main ways from home composting. First, they save on the costs associated with collecting, transporting and composting this waste. Secondly, it increases their recycling rate because the home composted waste is not included in the calculation for the total amount of waste collected. This has the effect of increasing the percentage of household waste sent for recycling.
	There are also real difficulties with the measurement of home composting. Accurate reporting against the statutory performance standards is essential if we are to ensure real efforts are made by local authorities to increase recycling and composting.

Kyoto Agreement

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what part a reduction in HFC emissions in the UK will play in the United Kingdom's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto agreement.

Michael Meacher: The UK is on course to meet, and go beyond, its target under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2008–12. This target covers a basket of six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride); the UK does not have targets under the Kyoto Protocol for the individual gases.
	UK emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 1995—the base year chosen for measuring emissions of these gases for the Kyoto Protocol—were equivalent to 4.1 MtC, contributing about 2 per cent. of the total greenhouse gas emissions in that year.
	Action to reduce fugitive emissions of HFC-23 from HCFC-22 manufacturing plants have meant that total emissions of HFCs have fallen significantly since then. This will be partly offset by an increase in emissions from end use markets such as aerosols, refrigeration and foam blowing as consumption of HFCs increases in response to the phase out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. However, reduced levels of leakage and increased use of alternative fluids are expected to limit the increase in emissions.
	Overall, annual emissions of HFCs are projected to be equivalent to 2.9 MtC in 2010, a fall of 29 per cent. from 1995 levels. The expected reductions in emissions of the other five greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol mean that the relative contribution of HFCs emissions in 2010 is projected to be the same as in 1995, at about 2 per cent. of the total UK greenhouse gas emissions.

Timber

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 272W, on timber, if she will place in the Library the confirmation given by the Brazilian Government that the mahogany shipments in question did not breach CITES regulations.

Michael Meacher: A copy of the translation of the document issued by the Brazilian Management Authority confirming that the CITES permits for the shipment in question were authentic has been placed in the Library.

Farm-scale Biodiversity Evaluations

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the time scale was set out in the voluntary agreement with SCIMAC in November 1999 for the Scientific Steering Committee to review the data and provide recommendations on the farm-scale biodiversity evaluations.

Michael Meacher: The voluntary agreement between SCIMAC and Government made in November 1999 states that:
	"The final year of crop plantings within the Farm-Scale Biodiversity Evaluations is 2002. Following the Scientific Steering Committee's final year review and recommendations, the work programme of the Committee relating to the current objectives set and agreed will be concluded. No extension to this agreement will take place without further negotiation between Government and SCIMAC."
	"The Government will ask and expect the Scientific Steering Committee to review data and provide recommendations/advice on or before end-October in 2002 of the Farm-Scale Biodiversity Evaluations."
	"The Government will ask and expect the Scientific Steering Committee to complete final year analysis and reporting of results for winter oilseed rape in time for autumn 2003 plantings to take place should the null hypothesis be confirmed."

Refrigerators

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the money allocated to help local authorities deal with the storage and disposal of refrigerators has been distributed.

Michael Meacher: The £6 million allocated to local authorities for the extra costs they faced from 1 January to end March this year was added to local authorities' general grant for the current financial year. General grant is distributed to councils through standard spending assessments (SSA). The provision for waste disposal is included within the upper tier of the Environmental, Protection and Cultural Services (EPCS) SSA.

Marine Environment

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what new funds her Department will provide to the statutory nature conservation agencies and Sea Fisheries Committee to allow them to meet their responsibilities to manage, protect and monitor the marine environment and its natural resources.

Michael Meacher: Officials are currently discussing with English Nature their corporate plan for 2002–05. These discussions will focus on the need for resources to cover important areas of work such as the marine environment and in turn help inform the process for the Departments allocation of funds as part of spending review 2002.
	Sea fisheries committees are committees of local authorities and are funded by local government. The Government have made it clear that no decisions will be taken on funding of sea fisheries committees until the Common Fisheries Policy review is complete. At that stage we will be better placed to assess any changes in our obligations for inshore management, including any additional environmental responsibilities.

Marine Environment

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government's Review of Marine Nature Conservation will report on its findings.

Michael Meacher: The regional seas pilot scheme in the Irish sea recently announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is due to report its findings to Government in the early part of 2004. The pilot scheme's findings will inform the review's final recommendations to Government which we hope to receive by the end of 2004.

Sellafield

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what actions BNFI has taken to stop the leaks from the sludge storage tanks in Building B24L at Sellafield; and when this work will be complete.

Brian Wilson: I have been asked to reply.
	BNFL has undertaken a number of projects aimed at improving the integrity of the B241 tanks, reducing the potential for material to leak from the plant and enabling the removal of the inventory from the tanks. This work has been ongoing since 1993. BNFL expects that the work to remove the majority of the active inventory will be completed in approximately 11 years.

Rainforests

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to reduce the logging of rainforests and to discuss these matters with mining companies.

Clare Short: I have been asked to reply.
	Logging of rainforests is not necessarily a bad thing. It can bring income and jobs to poor people. If done carefully logging need not threaten the long-term sustainability of these forests or the environmental services they provide.
	Logging should not take place in protected areas or in contravention of other laws and regulations. My Department is working with a number of countries to help improve forest law enforcement and governance and tackle illegal logging and associated trade.
	The Government have not discussed logging of rainforests with mining companies.

Co-product Feeds

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the amounts of moist co-product feeds and liquids used as feed materials by livestock farmers in conjunction with home-produced feeds or as complements to bought-in feeds in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment she has made of the importance of co-product feeds to the UK livestock industry;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on co-products as feed materials; and what representations she has made to the European Commission to include co-product feeds on the EU's proposed positive list of approved feed materials.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that industry estimates nearly two million tonnes of moist feed and over one million tonnes of liquid feed is fed annually to British livestock. Many materials derived during the manufacture of food and drink are fed by livestock farmers, or used by manufacturers for feed sold to farmers. These co-products have a nutritional value and are considered an important range of feed materials for the UK livestock industry.
	The European Commission has commissioned a feasibility study on the possibility of having a positive list of approved feed materials for use in animal feed. If any such list is to be compiled it is likely that it will include co-products.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Christopher Reeves

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will make a statement about her Department's handling of the case of Christopher Reeves, Oxford Crown court T2000/022.

Harriet Harman: Dr. Alfred Christopher Reeves was tried at Oxford Crown court, on a number of allegations of indecent assault. On 22 May 2000, he was acquitted on all charges, part way through the defence case, at the direction of the trial judge, Her Honour Judge Mowatt.
	Following the conclusion of the case, Dr. Reeves and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions complaining about the CPS handling of the case. These complaints have been investigated thoroughly and the Crown Prosecution Service and the Attorney-General have provided comprehensive responses to both the hon. Member and Dr. Reeves' solicitors.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Young People

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what subjects and on which dates his Department has recently consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations.

Barbara Roche: The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Cabinet Office is committed to the new core principles for the involvement of children and young people published by the Minister for Young People in November 2001. The Cabinet Office will shortly be publishing an action plan setting out for the first time how it will implement these principles to extend the participation of children and young people in the design, provision and evaluation of policies and services that affect them.

Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in (a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Buckingham on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 252W.

Sustainable Timber

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library certificates showing that timber used for the doors, doorframes and window frames in the refurbishment of Norman Shaw South came from a certified sustainable source.

Derek Conway: I have been asked to reply.
	Wallis Joinery, the manufacturer of the new timber windows, doors and joinery for the Norman Shaw South refurbishment project, operates a Quality Assurance system. This requires their timber suppliers to provide evidence (in the form of import licences and certificates) to show that timber supplied has been legally obtained and is from sustainably managed sources. The contractor is required to provide these licences and certificates to the House. When they are received I will ensure that copies are placed in the Library.

Balfour Beatty

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what contracts the Government have with Balfour Beatty; which ones are under way; and what the start dates are of ones on which work has not started.

Andrew Smith: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally.

DEFENCE

Sea King AEWs

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he plans to withdraw the Sea King AEW force from service.

Adam Ingram: On current plans the Sea King Airborne Early Warning force is projected to remain in service until at least 2012.

Deployments

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 858W, on deployments, if he will reconcile his figure for the number of service personnel serving in the Balkans with the answer given on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 825W.

Adam Ingram: The answer I gave on 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 858W, showed only UK regular forces deployed on military tasks overseas, including operations. Personnel on NATO commitments and Mobilised Reservists were not included.
	Reconciliation of this answer with the answer given on 16 April 2002, Official Report, column 825W, is shown in the following table.
	
		Number deployed
		
			  Balkans Tasks NATO and Mobilised Reservists Balkans total 
		
		
			 Royal Navy — 100 100 
			 Army 3,823 744 4,567 
			 RAF 233 — 233 
			  
			 Total 4,056 850 4,900 
		
	
	Note:
	NATO and Mobilised Reservists figures are approximate.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what British service personnel are deployed in the Republic of Cyprus.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom contributes 414 service personnel to UNFICYP. British forces in the sovereign base areas on Cyprus, and therefore on British territory and not in the Republic of Cyprus, number approximately 3,230.

Ethnic Minorities

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic communities were serving in the British forces on 1 May.

Adam Ingram: Figures for 1 May 2002 are not yet available. A re-survey of the ethnic origin of armed forces personnel is currently being undertaken using the categories contained in the national census of 2001. The last available figures using the previous ethnic categories are those of 1 October 2001 and are as follows:
	
		
			 Ethnic minority (EM) Number EM as a percentage of EM plus non-EM 
		
		
			 Male 3,173 1.73 
			 Female 314 1.92 
			  
			 Total 3,487 1.75

Women

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many women are serving in each of the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: As at 1 April 2002, the number of women serving in the UK regular forces is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of women serving 
		
		
			 Naval Service 3,521 
			 Army 7,901 
			 RAF 5,616 
			 Total 17,038 
		
	
	These figures are taken from TSP1 'UK Regular Forces Strengths and Changes', a monthly publication, a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library.

Land Mines

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel are involved in land mine destruction; and in which countries such personnel are working.

Adam Ingram: British Service personnel provide technical expertise, management and specialist skills to support mine action programmes worldwide. As at 1 May 2002, personnel were deployed as follows:
	Senior Technical Adviser to the UN Mine Action Centre in Bosnia.
	Staff Officer within the Humanitarian Demining Training Centre at the US Army's Engineer School.
	Head of Technical Unit at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.
	In Bosnia, as part of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR), UK military personnel are involved in the co-ordination and monitoring of mine clearance; emergency disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance as required; and mine awareness training. We also maintain an Explosive Ordnance Disposal detachment in the Falkland Islands. Additionally, UK personnel have provided technical information to the United Nations and to non- governmental organisations on mines that could be found in Afghanistan.

Gurkhas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Gurkha troops are serving in Gurkha regiments based in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The total number of trained Gurkhas serving in the United Kingdom as at 1 April 2002 is 2,291. There is only one Gurkha Infantry Battalion based in the United Kingdom; however, Gurkha Reinforcement Companies are currently serving with the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment, 1 Royal Irish and 1 Highlanders. There are also formed Gurkha units serving with 10 Transport Regiment, 30 Signal Regiment, 36 Engineer Regiment and in training establishments at Sandhurst and Brecon. In addition, there are small numbers of Gurkha servicemen serving as "Attached Arms" within numerous other establishments across the British Army.

Territorial Army

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) of 22 November 2001, Official Report, column 373W, what savings accrued from the cancellation of the exercises.

Adam Ingram: Information on the savings which might have accrued from the cancellation of the 84 exercises listed in the answer given on 22 November 2001 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Savings might have accrued, for example, from the cancellation of chartered transport or from a reduction in fuel consumption. However, other costs such as personnel, equipment and infrastructure costs are fixed and would not have been saved when an exercise was cancelled.

Navy Vessels

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is.

Adam Ingram: The oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy is HMS Victory which was commissioned in 1778. Although HMS Victory is the oldest ship in commission in the Royal Navy, she is no longer floating but is set in a dry dock in Portsmouth naval base. The oldest commissioned ship which is still afloat is HMS Fearless which was brought into service in November 1965 and is due to be de-commissioned on 31 October 2002.

Navy Vessels

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the complement is of (a) HMS Cardiff, (b) HMS Edinburgh, (c) HMS York, (d) HMS Nottingham, (e) HMS Glasgow, (f) HMS Exeter, (g) HMS Southampton and (h) HMS Newcastle.

Adam Ingram: The respective complements are set out in the table:
	
		
			 Ship Complement 
		
		
			 Cardiff 252 
			 Edinburgh 244 
			 York 255 
			 Nottingham 242 
			 Glasgow 251 
			 Exeter 241 
			 Southampton 243 
			 Newcastle 249

Navy Vessels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to put into reserve HMS Cornwall, HMS Campbeltown, HMS Chatham and HMS Cumberland in Portsmouth naval base.

Adam Ingram: There are no current plans to put any of the Type 22 (Batch 3) frigates into reserve.

Defence Logistics Organisation

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the operating costs were of the Defence Logistics Organisation in (a) 2002–03 and (b) each year since it was established.

Adam Ingram: The Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) was formed on 3 April 2000. The first year of operation (2000–01) was managed under a cash regime. 2001–02 was managed under the new resource accounting system for the first time but the final outturn will not be available until the end of October 2002 which is when the National Audit Office is expected to have completed the audit of the departmental accounts. Operating costs have therefore been provided on a cash basis for consistency as follows:
	Financial year 2000–01 final outturn: £5.798 billion
	Financial year 2001–02 AP 12: £6.371 billion.
	Under a cash accounting regime, operating costs include expenditure on capital projects and running costs. The outturn for 2000–01 included a transfer of some £600 million from the Defence Procurement Agency to the DLO following the transfer of responsibility for the management of in-service support costs. Financial year 2001–02 included a transfer of an additional £400 million for in-service support, taking the annual total transfer of in-service support costs into the DLO to around £1 billion.
	Financial year 2002–03 has only just started and under the new resource accounting regime the DLO has not been given a cash control total equivalent target.

Split North Port

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to his Department was for the use of the Split North Port by British forces between September 1992 and January 2002.

Adam Ingram: The cost to the Ministry of Defence for the use of Split North Port between September 1992 and January 2002 was £10.14 million.

Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in (a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.

Lewis Moonie: The reported estimated losses arising from suspected fraud (including theft and corruption) are as follows:
	
		
			 Year £  
		
		
			 1999–2000 2,037,406 
			 2000–01 881,350 
		
	
	No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. The figures, which relate entirely to the resource estimates formerly ascribed as Vote 1 attribution, are a combination of suspected and proven frauds and theft with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. A significant element of estimated cost or value can relate to 'at risk' estimates applied to suspected procurement cases, the majority of which have a proven value lower than original estimates with a significant number of cases resolved as 'no crime'.

Medial Treatment

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the (a) standard of treatment (b) in-patient waiting time, (c) out-patient waiting time and (d) cost of the current medical treatment of armed forces personnel in (i) the private sector and (ii) the NHS.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 7 May 2002
	We consider that a satisfactory standard of treatment is provided to Service personnel by the NHS and private healthcare providers. The majority of Service patients treated in NHS hospitals are admitted to Ministry of Defence Hospital Units whose host NHS trusts are set targets by the Defence Secondary Care Agency, reflecting its own Key Targets for both in-patient and out-patient waiting times. Overall performance against the key targets is published in the Agency's Annual Report, which is laid before Parliament. The contracts with the NHS trusts are monitored for cost effectiveness. Some Service personnel receive treatment at other NHS hospital trusts with whom we have no contractual agreements, where this is more appropriate for them. As entitled patients, they receive such treatment free of charge. Limited use is made of private healthcare providers to enable Service personnel to be treated and returned to deployability more quickly, where this is considered cost effective.

Army

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average length of service has been for (a) British nationals, (b) Gurkhas and (c) foreign nationals, broken down by country serving in the British Army.

Adam Ingram: The tables show officer and soldier mean length of service. Nationality at birth before 1997 is not available on strength data so only the last six years have been shown. Totals shown are for untrained and trained personnel, ie officer designates are included in the officer table.
	Calculations have been made using the mean length of service totals as at April 2001 of each year for those personnel on current strength at that date. Figures on mean length of service have only been calculated for populations of 10 or more.
	
		Average length of service in years—as at April
		
			 Officers 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 (a) British 11.71 11.60 11.75 11.57 11.52 11.36 
			 (b) Gurkhas n/a 22.99 22.56 22.38 22.18 22.40 
			 (c) Foreign(3)   
			  Nationality (at birth)
			 Australia 7.69 8.24 8.73 8.12 7.17 7.38 
			 Canada 10.00 9.26 9.35 10.29 10.12 10.95 
			 India 9.41 9.67 10.36 10.50 10.35 10.57 
			 Malta GC 18.22 17.44 15.93 15.04 16.70 — 
			 Nepal — — — — — 12.90 
			 New Zealand 6.88 7.21 7.36 7.50 7.23 7.30 
			 Republic of Ireland 10.36 10.29 10.98 11.74 11.44 10.33 
			 Rhodesia 6.38 6.38 7.37 8.07 8.31 8.82 
			 South Africa 8.80 8.82 9.24 6.54 6.81 5.50 
			 Zimbabwe — — 3.00 1.95 2.83 3.67 
		
	
	(3) Those nationalities with a current strength more than 9 as at April 2001
	
		Average length of service in years—as at April
		
			 Soldiers 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 (a) British 8.21 8.19 8.14 8.16 8.23 8.26 
			 (b) Gurkhas n/a 9.09 8.97 9.01 9.16 9.10 
			 (c) Foreign(4)   
			 Nationality (at birth)   
			 America 8.25 7.43 7.08 8.68 7.61 8.17 
			 Australia 6.14 6.79 6.61 6.38 6.48 7.20 
			 Belize — — — 3.00 3.20 — 
			 Canada 8.20 7.84 7.09 7.02 7.62 7.20 
			 Fiji — — 1.64 0.60 1.13 1.37 
			 France — — — — — 9.60 
			 Gambia — — — — — 1.85 
			 Germany 8.85 7.34 6.88 5.99 4.85 5.47 
			 Ghana — — — — 3.45 1.32 
			 Grenada (Windward Islands) — — — — — 1.00 
			 India 14.61 13.17 11.59 12.20 10.67 8.43 
			 Jamaica 15.01 15.31 11.89 8.09 4.57 1.94 
			 Kenya — — 11.50 8.50 2.67 2.31 
			 New Zealand 7.09 6.89 5.98 6.68 6.95 8.41 
			 New Zealand Islands — — — — — 1.94 
			 Nigeria — — — — — 1.44 
			 Pakistan 9.92 8.83 9.63 10.63 9.90 6.71 
			 Republic of Ireland 8.24 7.66 7.84 7.79 8.30 9.20 
			 Rhodesia 6.60 6.85 5.90 5.80 6.31 7.89 
			 South Africa 4.88 4.32 3.81 2.79 2.48 2.17 
			 St. Helena — — 0.42 0.66 1.07 2.09 
			 St. Lucia Island — — — — — 0.89 
			 St. Vincent Island — — — — 0.49 1.46 
			 Trinidad and Tobago — — — — 4.41 3.33 
			 Zimbabwe — 5.50 3.25 2.85 2.20 1.35 
		
	
	(4) Those nationalities with a current strength more than 9 as at April 2001

Glencorse Barracks

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use of Glencorse Barracks.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 9 May 2002
	The Ministry of Defence is currently examining the options for the future use of Glencorse Barracks, but I can confirm that the Recruit Selection Centre will remain at the site, maintaining a dedicated recruit selection facility in Scotland. In addition, it is intended that there will be a further Army presence at Glencorse, although the extent of this has not yet been decided.

Submarine Service

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) manning requirement and (b) strength is of the submarine service.

Adam Ingram: The manning requirement for the Submarine Arm of the Royal Navy is 710 officers and 3,154 ratings.
	The trained strength of the Submarine Arm, including personnel filling staff appointments and undergoing training, is 806 officers and 3,004 ratings.

Submarine Service

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the submarine service has sufficient manpower to crew all operational submarines; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Submarine Arm of the Royal Navy has sufficient manpower to man the submarines currently in the normal seagoing operational cycle to 100 per cent. of their complement.

Israel

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the supply of arms to Israel.

Ben Bradshaw: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on 15 April 2002, Official Report, columns 722–23W.

TREASURY

Aggregates Levy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost to the Treasury will be (a) at the outset of its introduction and (b) projected in the next three years of moneys redirected from the Aggregates Levy to the Sustainability Fund in England.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund is a public expenditure programme of £29.3 million a year in England for the two years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Decisions on the size of the fund in future years have yet to be made.

National Insurance

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on VAT revenues of the 1 per cent. rise in employers' national insurance contributions from April 2003; whether this impact is included in the revenue estimates published in Table A.1 of the Red Book; what estimate he has made of the cost to the public sector of higher VAT charges resulting from the rise in employers' national insurance contributions; and whether the impact on public sector VAT bills of a higher rate of employers' national insurance has been included in his estimate of the total cost to the public sector of the increase in employers' national insurance contributions.

Andrew Smith: The net Exchequer effect of a Budget measure is generally calculated as the difference between applying the pre-Budget and post-Budget tax and benefit regimes to the levels of total income and spending at factor cost expected after the Budget. Separate estimates of the impact of individual measures on overall levels of income and spending are not available; any such effects will, however, be taken into account in the forecasts of the economy and public finances as set out in chapters B and C of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

English GDP

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contributions to English GDP were made in 2001–02 by the (a) farming, (b) tourism and (c) manufacturing industries (i) gross and (ii) net of subsidies and compensation.

Ruth Kelly: The information falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 13 May 2002
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question on estimating the contributions to English GDP in 2001–02 of a number of industries net and gross of subsidies and compensation. (54463)
	The latest Gross Value Added (GVA) estimates for the constituent countries of the United Kingdom by industry are available up to 1998 only, and were published as an ONS News Release on 27 February 2001 (data up to 1999 will be published later this month). The Standard Industrial Classification breakdown identifies 'Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing' and 'Manufacturing' but does not separately identify 'Tourism'. However, estimates of the contribution from 'Tourism' have been supplied by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, defined from the activities of tourists rather than by the conventional industry classification. For this reason, there will be some double counting for estimates in this category against estimates for the agricultural and manufacturing industries.
	
		Table 1: Gross Value Added, England, 1998
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing 7,313 
			 Manufacturing 127,027 
			 Tourism(5) 34,700 
			  
			 Total 743,318 
		
	
	(5) GVA for tourism will include a small element from agricultural and manufacturing industries.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	No sub-UK breakdowns of subsidies or compensation payments consistent with these data are currently available.
	Data on subsidies for the whole of the UK are available by industrial sector up to 1999, as outlined in the release 'United Kingdom Input-Output Analysis 2001', but National Accounting conventions limit these to include subsidies on production only, excluding subsidies on product. Using these National Accounts definitions, the 'Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing' industry received £370m subsidies on production in 1999 across the UK, while the 'Manufacturing' industry received none (and, as before 'Tourism' is not classed as an industry under the Standard Industrial Classification).
	Separately, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication 'Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2001' shows that subsidies on product for that industry for the UK totalled £2,405m in 1999 and £1,943m in 2001. No estimates on subsidies on product are available for the Manufacturing industry. No estimates on Tourism as an industry are available from any source, though the Department for Culture, Media and Sport made a statement recently about Government support for tourism, which I enclose.
	The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs publication also shows a breakdown by country for these data on agricultural subsidies. The latest report was published on 3rd May 2002, and is available through their web site at http:// www.defra.gov.uk or through the House of Commons library.
	The ONS releases referred to in this answer are available in the House of Commons Library and on the web at htt:// www.statistics.gov.uk

Advisory Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Economic Policy Committee: Working Party and Reduced Compositions is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The responsibilities of the Economic Policy Committee are set out in articles 272 and 209 of the EC treaty, and in its statute as adopted in European Council decision 2000/604 of 29 September 2000. Article 1.2 of the statute requests this committee to "contribute to the preparation of the work of the Council by providing economic analyses, opinions on methodologies and draft formulations for policy recommendations, particularly on structural policies for improving growth potential and employment in the Community".
	The Economic Policy Committee met 11 times over the 12 months from the beginning of May 2001, and the UK representation consists of three officials from HM Treasury and one from the Bank of England. In addition there are eight working groups dealing with specific topics, which met up to six times over the last 12 months.
	To disaggregate the costs of the Economic Policy Committee from the UK's total contribution to the EU budget would involve disproportionate costs.
	The reports of work under consideration by the Economic Policy Committee are available on the committee's website. Any reports that are subsequently considered by the ECOFIN Council are subject to normal parliamentary scrutiny.

Advisory Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the mandate of the Economic and Financial Committee (including alternates and working party) Working Party and Reduced Compositions is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The role and responsibilities of the Economic and Financial Committee are set out in Article 114(2) (ex 109c(2)) of the EU treaty and in the statutes of the Economic and Financial Committee, which were adopted by the ECOFIN Council on 31 December 1998.
	Since the start of May 2001, the Economic and Financial Committee has met on 12 occasions. In accordance with Article 114(2) of the EU treaty, member states each appoint two members of the committee; the UK is represented by one official from HM Treasury and one official from the Bank of England. Each of these representatives has one alternate.
	The information regarding the annual cost of the committee's work to public funds can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	The items currently under consideration by the Economic and Financial Committee are those to be discussed in the coming months by the ECOFIN Council.
	Accountability and transparency to Parliament are ensured by the regular EU scrutiny process: documents agreed by the ECOFIN Council are submitted to Parliament along with explanatory memoranda and are examined by the Scrutiny Committee.

ECOFIN

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 7 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended the ECOFIN Council on 7 May.
	ECOFIN held an orientation discussion on the draft Commission proposals for the 2002 Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. After further preparatory work in the Economic and Financial Committee, the draft guidelines will be agreed at ECOFIN in June and submitted to the Seville European Council.
	Political agreement was reached on the draft directive for financial conglomerates and on the articles of the draft directive on market abuse. After clarification of the recitals, the market abuse directive will return at the 4 June ECOFIN for political agreement on the text as a whole.
	ECOFIN discussed a Presidency key issues paper on energy taxation. It was agreed that further preparatory work should be undertaken, with a view to reaching political agreement at the 4 June ECOFIN.
	The Commission gave an oral update on progress with third countries on the savings tax directive. Ministers updated the Council on progress with dependent territories.
	The Commission introduced the Preliminary Draft Budget for 2003. Along with colleagues, I stressed the importance of respecting the Berlin Financial Perspective ceilings. I also welcomed the Commission's proposals to target a greater proportion of external aid at the poorest countries, and called for further progress towards meeting the EU's November 2000 Development Strategy. The draft budget for 2003 will be agreed at the Budget Council in July.
	ECOFIN discussed the Council's proposal for a revised Financial Regulation. Italy maintained its reserve on the article allowing delegation of aid delivery to member state agencies. Ministers requested further discussion of this by EU Ambassadors in COREPER to enable the regulation to be agreed at the 4 June ECOFIN.
	Under Any Other Business, the Swedish Finance Minister emphasised the need to keep track of member states' progress in meeting the development aid target agreed at the recent Monterrey Conference. It was agreed that ECOFIN would consider the issue at a later date.
	Following discussion over lunch, ministers also adopted texts on the economic and financial aspects of the EU-Latin America summit and on further work on arrangements for financial supervision and stability.
	No votes were taken at the meeting.

Bingo

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised from the bingo sector in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his projections are for such revenue in each of the next five years.

Paul Boateng: Duty receipts from bingo can be found in the HM Customs and Excise statistical bulletin "Receipts from Betting, Gaming and Lottery Duties", a copy of which can be found in the House of Commons Library. Details of the amount of VAT received from the bingo industry are not readily available.
	Projections for total revenue from duty on betting and gaming, including bingo, were published on 17 April in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2002. Revenue projections for bingo are not made separately.

Home Energy Efficiency

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will increase investment in home energy efficiency to meet the improvement target proposed in the Energy Review.

Andrew Smith: The Performance and Innovation Unit's Energy Review is a report to the Government and was published in February 2002. The Government are currently considering the issues raised by the PIU, including its recommendations on energy efficiency. A consultation paper to inform the Government's response will be issued shortly. Decisions on public expenditure for home energy efficiency measures will be taken in the context of the current Spending Review.

Beer Duty

Nigel Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Treasury of extending the reduced rate of duty on beer from small breweries to those local breweries that produce between 30,000 hectolitres and 200,000 hectolitres, using the brewery rate formula published in the Finance Bill.

Paul Boateng: Extending the relief for small breweries to breweries producing up to 200,000 hectolitres would raise the cost in 2002–03 from £10 million to £15 million by bringing around 25 additional brewers with turnovers up to £25 million within the scope of the relief.

Orphan Assets

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of orphan assets held in the life assurance sector in the UK.

Ruth Kelly: A precise figure is not available. Any estimate would be subject to a wide margin of error.

Sustainable Development

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans his Department has to assess the impact of the 2002 Comprehensive Spending Review on sustainable development; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: Improving quality of life and promoting sustainable development is an overarching aim of SR2002. The Treasury has for the first time in this spending review provided Departments with specific guidance on how to consider sustainable development systematically. This guidance has been made publicly available. Ministers are currently considering all aspects of departmental proposals to the Spending Review, including their implications for sustainable development. A statement on the outcome of the review will be made in due course.

Tax Credits

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the numbers of families and persons receiving (a) the working families tax credit, (b) the child care tax credit supplement to WFTC and (c) the disabled persons tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest figures appear in "Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit Statistics. Geographical analyses. November 2001", a copy of which is in the Library.

Christian Groups (Annuities)

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Christian groups on alternative provision of annuities for those who are not able to purchase an annuity because of Christian conscience;
	(2)  what proposals he has considered as alternatives to a life annuity for those groups that cannot take out such a policy because of Christian conscience.

Ruth Kelly: The Treasury and the Inland Revenue have had several meetings with a Christian group to discuss their concerns about annuities and alternative approaches to retirement income consistent with their beliefs.

Royal Family (Tax Status)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the principles of the arrangement made between the Government and the monarchy for the payment by the royal family of (a) income tax, (b) inheritance tax and (c) capital gains tax.

Gordon Brown: The arrangements are set out in full in the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) published on 11 February 1993.

Royal Family (Tax Status)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure inheritance tax is paid on the estate of the Her late Majesty the Queen Mother.

Gordon Brown: Inheritance tax is payable in accordance with the normal rules and paragraph 21(b) of the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464).

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

London Underground

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the (a) total passenger capacity and (b) the theoretical maximum capacity of London Underground was at peak periods in 1996–97 and 2001–02; and what changes in capacity resulted from (i) new lines, (ii) new trains, (iii) signal upgrades, (iv) speed restrictions, (v) signal failures, (vi) supply failures, (vii) line failure and (viii) structural problems.

David Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground (LU).
	(a) LU advise me that they do not measure, as part of their regular monitoring, the number of passengers which they are able to carry on the tube network as a whole. Instead, they have information which shows that in 1996–97 and 2001–02, during peak hours, the busiest short sections of the underground's lines carried totals of 133,450 and 142,401 passengers per hour respectively.
	(b) LU have figures for the design capacity of their rolling stock. This is the number of customers the rolling stock can physically carry and is defined by the manufacturer without taking into account the quality of the journey. An assessment can be made of the design capacity of trains scheduled per hour, at peak times on the same busiest short sections of each line. This gives figures of 308,278 for 1996–97 and 315,514 for 2001–02.
	(i) to (viii) LU inform me that this information does not form part of their regular monitoring and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

London Underground

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the application of the phrase "minimum ambiguity" to deciding who is responsible for tube assets under the PPP.

David Jamieson: London Underground is responsible for development of the PPP plans for the modernisation of the underground's infrastructure. I understand that when London Underground was restructured into an operating company and three infrastructure companies in April 2000, that restructuring was effected by an asset transfer scheme. It is correct to say that the requirement of "minimum ambiguity" as to the responsibility for asset maintenance within the underground has been a guiding principle for the development of the PPP Service Contracts with the infrastructure companies following the asset transfer scheme. During the period of shadow running since April 2000 there has been considerable work carried out to develop detailed asset information, with clear allocation principles to be incorporated in the contract documents, the application of which will enable responsibility for maintenance and renewal of underground assets to be determined.

London Underground

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the results of the recent consultation regarding the proposed Private Public Partnership for the London Underground; and if he will place a full report of it in the Library.

David Jamieson: London Underground Ltd. has addressed London Regional Transport's consultation with the Mayor of London and Transport for London in its "Update to Final Assessment Report". This document is available on London Underground Ltd.'s website.

Network Rail

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress made by Network Rail to raise sufficient funds to acquire Railtrack's assets.

David Jamieson: This is a matter for Network Rail.

Network Railcard

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his response is to ATOC's proposals further to limit the validity of the Network Railcard.

David Jamieson: Since privatisation in 1993 the SouthEast Network Railcard has been an regulated fare. As a result its implementation and conditions are a matter for train operators.

Airports

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has to (a) enforce and (b) improve the code which controls the distances between aircraft and customs that incoming and outgoing passengers are required to walk at UK airports;
	(2)  which body has the authority to enforce standards and rules on the maximum distances which incoming and outgoing passengers are required to walk between aircraft and customs at UK airports.

David Jamieson: We are not aware of the existence of any such standards, rules or code governing these matters.
	Annex 9 to the Chicago Convention contains the recommended practice that: "Particular attention should be given to passenger routes involving long distances to be covered on foot and the possibility should be studied of facilitating travel over these routes by mechanical systems."
	My Department has commended this guidance to the industry, but it is for airport operators to decide how to apply it at individual airports, taking into account any relevant customer service standards.
	Special arrangements for elderly and disabled people are the subject of a Code of Practice currently being developed between my Department and representatives of the aviation industry and the various disability organisations; it is hoped to finalise the text shortly.

A1

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) cars, motorbikes and vans, (b) lorries and (c) camper-vans and caravans use the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh each day.

Stephen Byers: The average numbers of vehicles per day on the A1 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2000, are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Vehicle type Number 
		
		
			 Cars 11,621 
			 Motorcycles 80 
			 LGV (vans) 1,468 
			 HGV (lorries) 1,543

Road Pricing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if there is (a) current and (b) proposed European Union guidance on the implementation of (i) congestion charging, (ii) road pricing and (iii) workplace parking charging.

Stephen Byers: I am informed that there is no current or proposed EU guidance of this nature.

Road Pricing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if his Department produces guidance to local authorities on the recommended daily rates for (a) congestion charging and (b) workplace parking charging; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: My Department has issued no guidance. It is for local authorities to decide, after local consultation, on the structure and level of any road user or workplace parking levy charges.

Road Pricing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated revenue is from (a) workplace parking charges and (b) congestion charging in each year of his Department's 10-year transport plan.

Stephen Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 15 April 2002, Official Report, column 741W.

Traffic Disruption

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what restrictions govern the movement of slow moving wide loads on public highways in England and Wales; and what steps he has taken to keep traffic disruption caused thereby to a minimum.

John Spellar: The movement of slow moving and wide loads is regulated by the requirements laid down in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended and the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1979, also as amended. Under these regulations there is a requirement on the haulier to inform the police about the movement of such loads. The police have the powers to vary the time or date of the move on the grounds of road safety and congestion to suit local conditions.

Road Safety (Children)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a telephone hotline for members of the public who witness the carriage of children without seat belts.

David Jamieson: The Department has no plans for such a hotline for reports about unrestrained children carried in vehicles. It is the responsibility of the police to enforce road traffic legislation including that relating to the use of child restraints. It is always open for members of the public to make specific complaints directly to the police.
	Roadside surveys indicate that the wearing rate for child restraints/seat belts by children in the rear seats of cars is over 90 per cent. The Department will nevertheless continue with its publicity and information campaigns to encourage even greater use of restraints by adults and children.

10-Year Transport Plan

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to revise the 10-year transport plan to incorporate rural proofing.

Stephen Byers: I will be publishing a first year report detailing progress on delivery of the 10-year transport plan in July. Rural transport concerns were fully incorporated when the 10-year plan was published in 2000.

Infrastructure Projects

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to streamline the inquiry procedures for major infrastructure projects.

Sally Keeble: My right hon. Friend has today laid before Parliament a Statutory Instrument: The Town and Country Planning (Major Infrastructure Project Inquiries Procedure) (England) Rules 2002. A Departmental Circular (DTLR Circular 02/2002) is also being issued today to accompany the new Statutory Instrument. This Circular explains the new procedures for handling inquiries into those major infrastructure projects in England, as defined in the schedule to the Rules. Copies of the Statutory Instrument and the Circular have been placed in the House Libraries.
	The new arrangements for major infrastructure project inquiries, which are due to come into force on 7 June, are part of the package of measures announced by my right hon. Friend on 20 July 2001, to streamline the planning procedures for major infrastructure projects. The Department has also consulted on a key part of that package which is the proposed introduction of new procedures to enable Parliament to make a decision in principle on applications for major projects before the detail of the application is considered at a public inquiry.
	The new Rules build on the improvements already made to inquiry procedure rules more generally in August 2000.
	The key changes are
	the introduction of round table sessions will allow parties to discuss areas of concern with each other. Experience at other inquiries has shown that these can be a very effective mans of agreeing facts, and narrowing areas of disagreement, both before and during the inquiry.
	the introduction of a technical adviser, who will be tasked with assessing the technical evidence of all parties and will produce his own independent report on the technical issues.
	the introduction of mediation into inquiry proceedings which will help to narrow the issues before and during the inquiry.
	A date for the delivery of the Inspector's report will be announced at the end of the inquiry. This will give certainty to the parties about the length of time.
	the provision to limit cross examination where the inquiry timetable is put at risk has been introduced so that a situation should not arise where people at the beginning of an inquiry are not allowed to encroach into cross examination time allocated to those at the end of the inquiry.
	All these measures, included in the Rules, will help to improve the inquiry system for major infrastructure projects.

Rural Affairs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to include rural areas in the (a) National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal and (b) Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

Stephen Byers: The Government's policy is to tackle deprivation wherever it lies. It is not limited to urban areas but is concerned with removing social exclusion wherever it exists.
	The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal is a new long-term initiative designed to address the underlying causes of deprivation. Delivering the National Strategy will require changes to the way key services are delivered in all deprived areas—urban or rural. The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund aims to supplement this by enabling the 88 most deprived authorities to improve the services they provide. At least 16 of these 88 areas contain substantial rural areas.

Rural Affairs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the Countryside Agency on the application of rural proofing to the work of his Department.

Stephen Byers: Both the Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration and I have met the chairman of the Countryside Agency to discuss a range of rural issues. Officials from my Department have regular contact with their counterparts at the Countryside Agency about rural proofing and other matters.

Rural Affairs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase rural proofing in his Department in line with the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02".

Stephen Byers: My Department is taking a number of measures to further enhance its rural proofing activity. Those measures include:
	(i) nomination of a ministerial "rural champion": Lord Falconer will assume overall responsibility for the co-ordination of rural issues within the Department;
	(ii) the introduction of an integrated policy appraisal tool that guides policy makers towards assessment of the full range of policy impacts, including specifically those on rural areas;
	(iii) staff awareness raising activity: a number of actions are envisaged, including articles in internal DTLR journals, presentations to staff on integrated policy appraisal and rural issues, etc.;
	(iv) enhanced role for the DTLR official level rural "focal point": the focal point will be taking a more pro-active role in co-ordinating DTLR's activity as it impacts on rural areas, and will liaise regularly with the Countryside Agency.

Rural Affairs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he has issued to the Strategic Rail Authority on the application of rural proofing to its work.

Stephen Byers: Paragraph 8.6 of the Directions and Guidance I gave to the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on 11 April requires the authority to use their published planning criteria in appraising rail schemes. These criteria requires costs and benefits relating to environment, accessibility, integration, safety and economy to be taken into account, many of which could identify specific rural impacts.
	Financial assistance is provided to rural rail services as part of the Rail Passenger Partnership programme (RPP). RPP funding contributes to the provision of new or enhanced local and regional rail services or facilities. Projects cover both urban and rural networks, but have so far included increased services to rural areas, new stations and schemes to improve accessibility.

Rural Affairs

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what account is being taken of rural proofing in the Department's review of the Standard Spending Assessment formula for local authorities.

Stephen Byers: We are working to develop options for a fairer and more intelligible grant distribution system. Representatives of rural authorities are members of the technical working groups my Department is running. We will consult on options over the summer and will consider the responses, including those on factors that relate to rural areas, when we come to take decisions.

National Land Use Database

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement in respect of each of the English regions on (a) how many local authorities provided the necessary information on the review of the national land use database and (b) what action he plans to take to ensure that those regions who have not reported satisfactorily do so.

Sally Keeble: The number of local authorities providing returns for the 2001 update of the national land use database of previously developed land is shown in the following table. My Department is working with local authorities, English Partnerships, the Government Offices and other regional bodies to improve response rates for the 2002 update.
	
		
			 Government office Number of authorities in region Number of authorities returning in 2001 Percentage of authorities returning in 2001 
		
		
			 North-East 24 13 54 
			 North-West 44 36 82 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 24 17 71 
			 West Midlands 34 23 68 
			 East Midlands 40 23 58 
			 East of England 49 24 49 
			 South-West 47 23 49 
			 South-East 67 43 64 
			 London 33 23 70 
			 
			 England 362 225 62

Firefighters' Pensions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's advice to local authorities on whether they will permit widows and widowers of firefighters to retain their pensions on remarriage.

Alan Whitehead: Under the current rules of the firefighters' pension scheme, the surviving spouse of a firefighter who remarries will lose the rights to a widow's/widower's pension. There are no proposals at present to amend the scheme in this respect and therefore we could not advise local authorities to permit surviving spouses to retain their pensions on remarriage. We continue to discuss amendments to the current scheme with the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council which includes representatives of the Scottish Executive, the Northern Ireland Administration, fire service employers and unions and staff associations.

Registered Social Landlords

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the comparative costs of (a) loans entered into by registered social landlords for capital developments and (b) the equivalent cost to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Information to make a direct comparison of the cost of loans to registered social landlords (RSLs) and local authorities for housing investment is not held by my Department.
	RSLs are private sector organisations who borrow directly from banks, building societies and other financial institutions. Loan costs will vary according to the RSL taking the loan, the type of loan and when it is taken out.
	Borrowing for housing investment by local authorities is generally from the Public Works Loans Board. Loan costs will also vary due to the type of loan, when it is taken out and the local authority involved. The cost of servicing the loans is met through housing revenue account subsidy.

Emergency Services (Radio Communications)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what plans he has to provide inter-operability between emergency services and their radio communications systems;
	(2)  which organisations from industry are advising Ministers on the procurement details for the fire and ambulance services for the replacement of their radio communications systems;
	(3)  which Department has responsibility for taking decisions on the replacement of radio communication systems for fire and ambulance services;
	(4)  what consultations he has had to determine the procurement process for the fire and ambulance service for the replacement of their radio communications systems.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 10 May 2002
	DTLR has policy responsibility for fire services in England and Wales and the Department of Health for ambulance services.
	The requirements for inter-operability reflect identified needs following the attack on the World Trade Centre. The Presidents of the associations representing the Chief Officers of the emergency services have now agreed a new and enhanced requirement for the inter-operability of radio systems between the services.
	On 7 May 2002 I made an announcement about the procurement of a national radio communications system for the Fire Service in England and Wales. DTLR will now be discussing with fire authorities how best to implement the new national strategy. A new specification reflecting this enhanced requirement is being prepared. There will be competitive procurement for the fire services in accordance with EU procurement legislation.

Right to Buy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of tenants have bought their homes through right to buy schemes in rural areas in the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: holding answer 10 May 2002
	In the 15 years to 31 March 2001, 23 per cent. of local authority dwellings in rural areas have been sold under the right to buy scheme.
	When selling properties under the right to buy scheme, landlords may impose restrictions on their resale if they are located in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or certain rural areas designated for this purpose. An owner may be required to offer the property back to the landlord (if they wish to resell within ten years) or to people who have lived or worked locally for three years. The intention is to try to ensure that more of the existing housing in rural areas is available to local people. There are currently 24 designated rural areas, and our November 2000 Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: The Future" encouraged other local authorities to consider seeking designation.

Empty Homes (South-west)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many empty homes there are in the south-west region.

Sally Keeble: The number of empty homes in the south-west region on 1 April 2001 (latest available data) was 68,200.
	Notes: figure rounded to the nearest 100
	Sources: DTLR's 2001 Housing Strategy statistical appendix return and Housing Corporation's 2001 Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR).

Mobile Phone Masts

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps his Department has taken to monitor the incidence of mast sharing by mobile phone operators.

Sally Keeble: The Government's policy is firmly to encourage mast and site sharing where that is the optimum environmental solution. Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, "Telecommunications" provides guidance on this.
	In addition, as part of the mobile phone industry's 10 commitments to improve the handling of telecommunications development, operators have pledged to publish clear, transparent and accountable criteria and cross-industry agreement on site sharing.
	The industry sends site sharing statistics to the Department on a quarterly basis as part of this commitment. Latest figures show that, out of the current 10,416 sites that are capable of some form of mast/tower share, 3,669 sites have at least one sharer present. In addition, 2,713 applications for site share are pending.

St. Thomas' Hospital

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether the Government Office for London has provided him with a brief on the site at St Thomas' Hospital known as Block 9.

Nick Raynsford: The Government Office for London provides Ministers with a wide range of briefs but it is not the practice to disclose details of internal discussion and advice.

Planning

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what new planning guidelines will be introduced on the role of regional assemblies in planning applications.

Sally Keeble: We are not proposing to introduce any new planning guidance in relation to the existing role of regional assemblies in planning applications.
	Regional planning bodies already offer advice to local planning authorities and give evidence at an appeal where the planning application raises regional or sub-regional issues relevant to the delivery of regional planning guidance.

Planning

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 24W, if he will place a copy of the analysis by Smith and Williamson of responses to the Planning Green Paper in the Library.

Stephen Byers: I have placed a copy of the consultation analysis in the Library of the House. As Smith and Williamson make clear in their report:
	"It should be emphasised that this report represents only a partial analysis of the responses to the Green Paper. Many of the standard responses that have been quantitatively analysed have been initiated and influenced by organised campaigns. We suggest that in order to gain a more complete picture of opinions and suggestions regarding the Green Paper's proposals, it will be necessary to consider in more detail the many suggestions and qualifying comments on the standard forms and also the large number of more detailed responses, which it has not been possible to code and quantify, submitted by a wide variety of organisations, groups and individuals."
	I have also therefore placed in the Library a copy of the memorandum provided to the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee which attempts to provide this more qualitative analysis of the detailed responses.

Housing

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to relax the limitations on local authorities' borrowing against their assets for housing improvements or construction.

Sally Keeble: A change is to be made allow authorities to borrow without Government consent where they can afford to service the debt from available revenue resources. This change requires primary legislation and will be made as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.

Housing

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment the Government have made of the likely number of new dwellings that would be required in (a) London and (b) the south-east in order to satisfy predicted housing demand in the next 10 years.

Sally Keeble: Regional Planning Guidance for London and the south-east (RPG9) provides that 23,000 additional dwellings should be provided in London and 39,000 in the rest of the south-east (including, for these purposes, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex) each year on average until such time as the figures are reviewed.

Housing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what recent assessment he has made of the costs of building (a) pre- fabricated houses and flats and (b) non-pre-fabricated permanent houses and flats;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has held with the house building industry on the merits of pre-fabricated housing.

Stephen Byers: It is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.
	The Government do not hold benchmark costings on the difference between modular and traditional build. The Peabody Trust have said that their pioneering modular development at Murray Grove was slightly more expensive than a similar sized traditional build development. Costs could be expected to fall with greater volume in further developments.

Parishes

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parish councils in England have a population of (a) under 3,000, (b) 3,000 to 10,000, (c) 10,001 to 20,000, (d) 20,001 to 30,000 and (e) over 30,000.

Alan Whitehead: My Department does not hold current statistics on the populations of all parish councils in England. A survey 1 was carried out in 1997 by the Aston Business School, from which the following data have been drawn:
	
		
			 Population size band Councils in England Percentage 
		
		
			 Less than 500 3,252 40 
			 500–999 1,734 21 
			 1,000–2,499 1,591 20 
			 2,500–4,999 760 9 
			 5,000–9,999 487 6 
			 10,000–19,999 251 3 
			 20,000 and above 64 1 
			  
			 Total 8,139 100 
		
	
	(6) DETR 1998 "Local Councils' Use of Section 137: A financial review of parish and town councils in England and their discretion to spend under Section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972"; ISBN 1 85112 118 8.

Parishes

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parishes are exempt from the right to buy as a consequence of their population.

Sally Keeble: No parishes are exempt from the right to buy.
	However, when selling properties under the right to buy scheme, landlords may impose restrictions on their resale if they are located in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, or certain rural areas designated for this purpose. An owner may be required to offer the property back to the landlord (if they wish to resell within ten years) or to people who have lived or worked locally for three years. The intention is to try to ensure that more of the existing housing in rural areas is available to local people. There are currently 24 designated rural areas, and our November 2000 Rural White Paper "Our Countryside: The Future" encouraged other local authorities to consider seeking designation.

Parishes

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many parishes are able to claim business rates relief on village shops as a consequence of their population.

Alan Whitehead: This information is not available.
	To be eligible for rate relief under the village shop scheme, the business must be located in a qualifying rural settlement. Qualifying rural settlements must have a population of no more than 3,000, and be wholly or partly in a rural area that has been designated by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. However, it is the responsibility of the local authority to determine which settlements in its area meet the criteria for the scheme, to identify their boundaries and to place them on its local rural settlement list. Information on their number is not held centrally.

Local Authority Services

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how he will ensure that the new finance system for local authorities will provide an effective framework within which councils can initiate innovative ways of delivering customer-focused services.

Alan Whitehead: Our comprehensive agenda for reform of the local government finance system was set out in last December's White Paper "Strong Local leadership—Quality Public Services". Our finance reforms will give councils more space to innovate and respond in ways that are appropriate to local circumstances by providing local authorities with greater freedom to borrow, invest, trade, charge and set spending priorities. Our White Paper implementation plan is available on the DTLR website at http://www.dtlr.gov.uk/local-regions/sll/implement/plan/ index.htm.

Electoral Register Sales

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his plans to allow local authorities to sell electoral registers to third parties.

Nick Raynsford: We have today published a policy paper and draft regulations setting out the Government's intentions for regulations making provision about access to and sale and supply of electoral registers.
	The approach we are adopting strikes a balance between the individual elector's right to privacy and the needs of others to receive the data to carry out their functions. There will be two versions of the register, the data in which will have been compulsorily obtained—a full one, and an edited one containing particulars about only those electors who have not requested that their details be removed from the edited register.
	The full register will be available for electoral purposes, for law enforcement and crime prevention and for other purposes where there is a strong public interest in preserving availability. These include checking identity for credit purposes. The edited register will be available for sale to anyone for any purpose.
	Both the policy statement and the draft regulations have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and on the internet for public comment on the regulations. Our aim, subject to parliamentary approval, is to make the regulations to have effect from the 2002 canvass.

Special Advisers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the names and responsibilities of (a) his special advisers and (b) special advisers of his Ministers.

Stephen Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 March 2002, Official Report, column 908W.

Letters of Comfort

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on how many occasions his Department has issued letters of comfort to a private sector contractor.

Alan Whitehead: As there is no central list of "letters of comfort", this information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Data Protection Act

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of each version of the internal guidance which have been drawn up by his Department since 1 January 1999 to assist staff in his Department to answer subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Alan Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Stephen McCabe) on Thursday 25 April 2002, Official Report, column 446W.

Aga Khan

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings he has had with (a) the Aga Khan and (b) his staff in the last 12 months.

Nick Raynsford: It is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries (Electricity)

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects she has financed in the last three years to improve electricity supply in developing countries, indicating the cost of each and which use renewable technologies.

Clare Short: We are all increasingly providing financial assistance to our partner countries via payments through their central budgets in collaboration with other donors. Under these circumstances it is not possible to separate out the contributions of any one donor to any particular sector.
	We do, however, still have a number of ongoing specific energy projects in some countries. Brief details of our major country projects, together with details of our research projects in this sector and a full list of our activities in the energy sector over the past three years will be placed in the Library of the House.
	We are also contributors to the multi-donor technical co-operation facilities (ESMAP and PPIAF) which have activities in the energy sector, some of which include renewables. Brief details of this work are also available in the Library of the House.

Fraud and Corruption

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in (a) her Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) her Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.

Clare Short: Losses in DFID's Vote 1 and Vote 2 accounts were disclosed separately in the Losses Statement of the Appropriation Accounts 1999–2000 and the Accountability Notes of the Resource Accounts 2000–01.
	The estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption in DFID's Vote 1 budget in 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was £21,000 and £13,000 respectively. Of these amounts, £11,000 and £8,000 can be attributed to the theft of assets, which, in line with Treasury guidance, has been classified as involving departmental staff either directly or through collusion.
	There was no loss in DFID's Vote 2 budget in 1999–2000, but a loss of £0.2,000 was recorded in 2000–01.
	Details of suspected or proven fraud are provided to the Treasury on an annual basis. The annual report that the Treasury prepares on fraud is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Refurbishment

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she was informed that sapele timber had been used in the refurbishment of 1 Palace Street.

Clare Short: Standard DFID procedures were followed for this refurbishment project. These do not require me to be advised.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Israel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 April 2002, Official Report, column 668, on Israel, what risk assessment has been made regarding the protection of the deployed supervisory wardens from radical groups in the west bank.

Jack Straw: An assessment has been made of the monitors' security situation in Jericho. I judge this to be satisfactory in the circumstances, though it is plainly not possible to eliminate all risk. Measures have been put in place to enhance the level of protection afforded to the team. They are kept under constant review.

Israel

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral statement of 29 April 2002, Official Report, column 668, on Israel, what contingency plans are in place to ensure the evacuation of the British personnel deployed as supervisory wardens.

Jack Straw: Contingency plans are in place for the evacuation of personnel deployed as monitors in Jericho, as they are for staff at our consulate-general in Jerusalem. They are kept under constant review.

Israel

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the UN and (b) other Governments on a role for international forces in peacekeeping between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. the Foreign Secretary is in constant contact with his US and European counterparts about the middle east peace process. He also has regular contact with the UN Secretary General and the parties. These discussions cover the full range of issues including the role of the international community in helping Israel and the Palestinian Authority achieve a ceasefire and the resumption of negotiations.
	There is broad international consensus that an international peacekeeping operation cannot work without the agreement of both parties; a ceasefire to maintain; and a parallel political process. These do not now exist, so the immediate priority must be to help rebuild confidence and create such conditions for progress.

Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated level of losses to fraud and corruption was in (a) his Department's Vote 1 budget and (b) his Department's Vote 2 budget for (i) 1999–2000 and (ii) 2000–01.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows.
	
		Losses to fraud and corruption -- £
		
			   April 1999 to March 2000 April 2000 to March 2001 
		
		
			 Vote 1 budget   
			 FCO fraud 11,183 16,326 
			 Sum recovered 11,183 15,553 
			  
			 Net loss 0 773 
			
			 Vote 2 budget Nil

Middle East

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the International Criminal Court regarding human rights abuses as a result of the on-going conflict in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court will enter into force on 1 July 2002. The Court, which will formally come into existence on that date, will have no powers to investigate crimes retrospectively.

Belarus

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Belarusian Government about the Iraqi military delegation visit to Minsk in October 2001; what reports he has received about (a) the aim and (b) the outcome of the visit; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We are aware of press reports from October 2001 that an Iraqi delegation visited Belarus to receive military training and purchase arms. We view any report of actual or proposed transfers of weapons or weapons-related materials to Iraq—by any country—with serious concern. We have no doubt about Iraq's desire to acquire sophisticated weapons systems. We have expressed our concern about the October 2001 reports to the Belarusian Government and raised our concerns at the United Nations Iraq Sanctions Committee. We made clear in both instances our expectation that the Belarusian Government will continue to take all possible steps to ensure that arms sales and other transactions that violate UN Security Council resolutions will not take place.

Ministerial Accommodation

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what publicly owned accommodation is made available to him in his official role; how many nights he has been in residence at each of these properties in the last 12 months; and what the total cost was of maintaining each of these properties in the last 12 months.

Jack Straw: holding answer 9 May. 2002
	The official London residence of the Foreign Secretary is at 1 Carlton Gardens. I use the day rooms on the ground and first floors for meetings, receptions and entertaining. There is a self-contained residential apartment on the upper floor, which I have never occupied. This was occupied by my right hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) when he was Foreign Secretary, and continues to be occupied by him, as President of the Council. As Foreign Secretary he was 35 nights in residence between 1 April 2001 and 7 June 2001. Total maintenance costs during this period were £2,790.68. From 8 June 2001 the costs of the residential apartment are to be met by the Privy Council Office. I do have both official and private use of Chevening House, Sevenoaks. This is owned by a private trust.

Zimbabwe

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances (a) British nationals and (b) British passport holders would receive official help to leave Zimbabwe.

Ben Bradshaw: There are approximately 26,000 British nationals registered with the British High Commission in Harare. The British High Commission in Harare stands ready to offer what assistance they can to British nationals of all categories who seek their help to leave Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department has drawn up contingency plans to help UK citizens and UK passport holders evacuate Zimbabwe in the event of a breakdown of law and order there.

Ben Bradshaw: We have a Civil Contingency Plan in place for Zimbabwe, as we do for many other countries. This is under constant review. Any evacuation would be a last resort and by whatever means available at that time.

Madagascar

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are resident in Madagascar; and what relationships are established between Madagascar and the United Kingdom in the (a) economic, (b) political and (c) cultural fields.

Denis MacShane: Our embassy in Antananarivo estimates that there are some 160 British citizens in Madagascar.
	Bilateral links between Madagascar and the UK are strong. We have been working hard to maintain these, despite the difficult political and economic situation that has developed since the disputed presidential election in December 2001. We continue to support the efforts of the Organisation of African Unity to broker an agreement between the parties which will break the political impasse.
	The UK supports a number of small scale projects in Madagascar, particularly in the area of penal reform, and a number of British environmental NGOs are active there. Cultural links are growing: the BBC World Service rebroadcasts locally on FM, and there is increasing interest in learning English.

Madagascar

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the political agreement reached on 22 April by the rival presidential contenders in Madagascar; and what steps he will take to seek the investigation of human rights violations and the establishment of a permanent mechanism for the protection of human rights for all sections of the population.

Denis MacShane: We welcomed the signature of the Dakar Accord by Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka on 18 April. We regret that the parties have not, since then, been able to take the necessary steps to break the political deadlock. We continue to believe that the Dakar Accord provides the best basis for a settlement, and therefore support President Wade of Senegal's initiative for a second round of talks in Dakar on 14–15 May.
	We, with our EU partners, the US, the OAU and UN will continue to encourage the two parties to work together to find a peaceful solution to the impasse, including the need to respect the human rights of all the Malagasy people.

Visitor Visas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were refused visitors' visas by British high commission offices in (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Sri Lanka in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The total number of visitor visa applications (including family visit applications) refused between April 2001 to March 2002 is as follows:
	Pakistan: 32,133
	India: 23,891
	Sri Lanka: 4,199
	Statistics for April 2002 are not yet available.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to enable Ilois people to be able to visit the Chagos Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 10 April 2002, Official Report, column 56W.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from environmental organisations concerning the protection of the British Indian Ocean Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The BIOT Government receives representations from various environmental organisations such as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum and the Friends of Chagos on environmental matters in BIOT. The BIOT Government invests considerable time and effort on environmental and ecological issues.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what environmental impact assessments he holds concerning the effects of US military activity on Diego Garcia; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The BIOT Government employ a Conservation Consultant who makes annual visits to the territory to assess the state of the environment and report to the Commissioner. The last such visit was in February/March 2002.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what income has been received from the USA for the use of Diego Garcia as a military base since its establishment; when the lease expires; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The United States pays no rent or makes any similar payment in respect of its right to use the British Indian Ocean Territory, including Diego Garcia, for defence purposes. However, in 1965, when it became clear that the costs of setting up the territory as a separate dependency would exceed original estimates, the US Government agreed to contribute £5 million towards these costs.
	No part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, including Diego Garcia, has been leased to the United States. Under the 1966 Agreement between the UK and USA Governments, the islands will remain available to meet the defence needs of both Governments until 2016, and then for a further period of 20 years, unless either side has previously given notice of termination.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had on the licensing of fishing for commercial purposes within the British Indian Ocean Territories.

Ben Bradshaw: The BIOT Government regularly holds talks with their fisheries consultants who are responsible for negotiating commercial fishing rights within BIOT waters. The fishing licences themselves are issued by the BIOT Government in London.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations have been made by his Department for the receipt of passport applications by Ilois people living in (a) Mauritius, (b) Seychelles and (c) elsewhere.

Ben Bradshaw: Chagossians living in Mauritius and Seychelles apply for British passports to the British high commissions in those countries. They should continue to do so when section 3 of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 comes into force on 21 May 2002. Arrangements have been made so that, in the event of a large number of applications being received, the British high commission in Pretoria, which has a large passport issuing section, will issue their passports. Chagossians living elsewhere should apply to their nearest British passport issuing office.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to authorise the processing of British passport applications from Ilois people within the terms of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs signed a Commencement Order on 1 May which will bring the citizenship provisions of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 into force on 21 May 2002.

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive and publish a report on the possibility of resettlement of the Chagos Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The results of Phase 2B of a study investigating the feasibility of resettlement on some of the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago are expected to be available by mid 2002.

India

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made with the Government of India regarding bilateral training initiatives in counter terrorism.

Ben Bradshaw: In January 2002 my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee agreed to enhance significantly our bilateral co-operation in counter-terrorism, including training. This commitment was soon followed by a visit to India by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's counter terrorism adviser to discuss areas where we could deepen existing bilateral counter-terrorism co-operation. We subsequently held a successful aviation security course in New Delhi for officials from India and the region. On 25 April, the UK/India Joint Working on Terrorism met in London to discuss international terrorism as well as opportunities for further co-operation on training.

British Prisoners Overseas

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women of British nationality are serving a prison sentence in an overseas country; and in which country the sentence is being served in each case.

Ben Bradshaw: On 30 April 2002 we were aware of 2,030 British nationals serving custodial sentences in prisons overseas. Of these 1,753 are men and 277 are women. The table gives details of how many prisoners are in each country. The statistics represent only those prisoners who have asked the local authorities to inform the British consulate of their arrest and sentence.
	
		
			 Country Number of prisoners 
		
		
			 Albania 0 
			 Algeria 0 
			 Angola 0 
			 Antigua 1 
			 Argentina 3 
			 Armenia 0 
			 Australia 101 
			 Austria 11 
			 Azerbaijan 0 
			 Bahamas 0 
			 Bahrain 1 
			 Bangladesh 3 
			 Barbados 24 
			 Belarus 0 
			 Belgium 31 
			 Belize 0 
			 Bolivia 1 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 
			 Brazil 7 
			 Brunei 0 
			 Bulgaria 0 
			 Burma 0 
			 Burundi 0 
			 Cambodia 1 
			 Cameroon 0 
			 Canada 51 
			 Chile 1 
			 China 1 
			 Colombia 5 
			 Costa Rica 4 
			 Croatia 0 
			 Cuba 5 
			 Cyprus 7 
			 Czech Republic 0 
			 Denmark 10 
			 Dominica 1 
			 Dominican Republic 1 
			 Ecuador 6 
			 Egypt 2 
			 El Salvador 0 
			 Estonia 1 
			 Ethiopia 1 
			 Finland 3 
			 France 163 
			 Georgia 0 
			 Germany 130 
			 Ghana 0 
			 Grand Cayman 0 
			 Greece 8 
			 Grenada 13 
			 Guatemala 0 
			 Guyana 2 
			 Haiti 0 
			 Honduras 0 
			 Hong Kong 8 
			 Hungary 1 
			 India 23 
			 Indonesia 6 
			 Iran 0 
			 Ireland 104 
			 Israel 6 
			 Italy 23 
			 Jamaica 110 
			 Japan 52 
			 Jordan 0 
			 Kazakhstan 0 
			 Kenya 2 
			 Kuwait 1 
			 Latvia 0 
			 Lebanon 1 
			 Lithuania 0 
			 Madagascar 0 
			 Malawi 1 
			 Malaysia 2 
			 Mali 0 
			 Malta 6 
			 Mauritius 2 
			 Mexico 1 
			 Mongolia 0 
			 Monteserrat 0 
			 Morocco 13 
			 Mozambique 0 
			 Namibia 0 
			 Nepal 1 
			 New Zealand 7 
			 Nicaragua 0 
			 Nigeria 0 
			 Norway 2 
			 Oman 2 
			 Pakistan 2 
			 Panama 5 
			 Papua New Guinea 0 
			 Peru 8 
			 Philippines 14 
			 Portugal 10 
			 Qatar 2 
			 Romania 2 
			 Russian Federation 2 
			 Rwanda 0 
			 Saudi Arabia 16 
			 Senegal 0 
			 Seychelles 0 
			 Sierra Leone 1 
			 Singapore 10 
			 Slovakia 0 
			 Slovenia 0 
			 Solomon Islands 0 
			 South Africa 29 
			 South Korea 1 
			 Spain 221 
			 Sri Lanka 0 
			 St. Lucia 6 
			 St. Vincent and Grenadines 5 
			 Surinam 1 
			 Swaziland 0 
			 Sweden 34 
			 Switzerland 2 
			 Syria 1 
			 Tanzania 0 
			 Thailand 31 
			 The Gambia 1 
			 The Netherlands 48 
			 Togo 0 
			 Tonga 0 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 13 
			 Tunisia 0 
			 Turkey 7 
			 Turkmenistan 0 
			 Ukraine 0 
			 United Arab Emirates 22 
			 United States of America 537 
			 Uzbekistan 0 
			 Uruguay 0 
			 Vanuatu 0 
			 Venezuela 25 
			 Vietnam 1 
			 Yugoslavia 0 
			 Zambia 0 
			 Zimbabwe 0 
			 Total 2,030

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, columns 151–52W.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had regarding (a) shared sovereignty and (b) the Spanish claim to full sovereignty of Gibraltar with the Spanish Foreign Minister during the talks in Valencia.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Battle) on 24 April 2002, Official Report, columns 294–95W.

Gibraltar

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Government of Gibraltar prior to announcing his intention to visit Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 152W.

Gibraltar

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the recent findings by the European Commission of breaches by Spain of EU law which affect Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: To answer this question would incur disproportionate cost. It would be necessary to identify and review every case in the European Court of Justice between the European Commission and Spain, since Spain's accession to the EU in 1986, to ascertain whether a breach of EU law was found, and consider whether the judgment had any affect on Gibraltar's law. The judgments of the European Court of Justice are published in Reports of Cases before the Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance, which can be found in the House of Commons Library.
	Any judgment of the ECJ against a member state potentially has implications for the law of another member state. The UK Government look to the Commission to ensure that all EU member states, including Spain, abide by their EU obligations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Renewable Energy

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each of the last five years, how much financial support and what percentage of the whole allocation her Department allocated for research and development as sources of energy of (a) wind, (b) wave, (c) biomass, (d) solar, (e) hydrogen, (f) nuclear, (g) coal and (h) gas; and in each case what percentage this represented of the whole sum spent on such matters by her.

Brian Wilson: Over the last five years, the Department of Trade and Industry has spent the following amounts on energy research and development, covering renewables (including wind, wave, biomass, solar and hydrogen); nuclear (where DTI spending has been confined to research on fusion); coal; and oil and gas. The table gives the percentages spent in each of these categories.
	The DTI supports research and development on sustainable energy technologies both through its Sustainable Energy Programme and through the Research Councils. Over the last five years, expenditure through the programme on wind energy has been in the range £1.2 million to £1.7 million per year; on wave energy, in the range £0 to £0.9 million per year; on biomass, in the range £1.8 million to £2.2 million per year; on solar, in the range £1.4 to £2 million per year; and on fuel cells (including some expenditure on hydrogen), in the range £1.2 million to £1.8 million per year. Relevant work supported through the Research Councils would be additional to these figures. The Sustainable Energy Programme also supports cross-technology work in the areas of technology transfer, export promotion and policy support.
	Provision for research and development through the Sustainable Energy Programme increases to £19 million for 2002–03 and through the Research Councils to £5.6 million. Additionally, the DTI has been assigned a further £5 million over three years for wave and tidal demonstration projects and a further £4 million for net metering, storage and control demonstration projects.
	The Government have also set up capital grants programmes in the following areas to bring forward new renewable energy technologies:
	£74 million for offshore wind (including £10 million from the New Opportunities Fund);
	£69 million for bioenergy (including £36 million from the New Opportunities Fund and £3 million for biomass heating);
	£20 million for photovoltaics (PV).
	The R and D and capital grants programmes supplement the substantial boost for renewable energy being provided by the Renewables Obligation. Estimated maximum payments available under the Renewables Obligation for England and Wales and the corresponding Renewables Obligation (Scotland) for 2002–03 are £282 million. The level of the Obligation is set to rise each year to 2010–11, when maximum payments for the year are estimated to reach £1 billion.
	
		DTI expenditure on energy R and D(7)
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
			  (£ million) (Percentage) (£ million) (Percentage) (£ million) (Percentage) (£ million) (Percentage) (£ million) (Percentage) 
		
		
			 Sustainable energy   
			 DTI programme 13.0 35.3 11.3 36.9 12.5 38.6 13.1 39.7 12.2 34.4 
			 Research Councils 2.9 7.9 3.1 10.1 2.4 7.4 2.8 8.5 5.0 14.1 
			 Total 15.9 43.2 14.4 47.1 14.9 46.0 15.9 48.2 17.2 48.6 
			
			 Nuclear fusion 16.6 45.1 12.6 41.2 14.4 44.4 14.3 43.3 14.3 40.4 
			 Coal(8) 4.1 11.1 3.4 11.1 2.9 9.0 2.6 7.9 3.7 10.5 
			 Oil and gas 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.6 0.2 0.6 
			 Total 36.8 100 30.6 100 32.4 100 33.0 100 35.4 100 
		
	
	(7) £ million and percentage of total DTI energy R and D spend for the year.
	(8) Cleaner Coal programme.
	Notes:
	1. The DTI Sustainable Energy Programme supports work on export promotion and technology transfer as well as projects relating to specific renewable energy technologies. Figures include programme management costs.
	2. The figures for oil and gas relate to the SHARP programme covering improved oil recovery and gas research.
	3. There may also be some Research Council supported R and D relating to coal, oil and gas.
	4. 2001–02 figures are subject to revision.

Alternative Fuels

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions her Department has held with companies regarding the conversion of fleet vehicles to alternative fuels.

Brian Wilson: I refer to my answer given to the hon. Member previously on 23 April 2002, Official Report, column 298W.

Sellafield

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Health and Safety Executive were first informed that the sludge storage tanks in building B241 at Sellafield were leaking.

Brian Wilson: BNFL staff first discussed a suspected leak to ground from sludge tank number 4 in B241 with the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear inspectors at a meeting in October 1993.

British Aerospace

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial assistance she granted to British Aerospace, and what the purpose was of each element, in each of the last five years.

Alan Johnson: In March 2000 HMG committed £530 million to BAE SYSTEMS in launch investment towards the design and development costs of the wings for the Airbus A380 "superjumbo". This commitment was subsequently novated to Airbus UK in anticipation of the restructuring of Airbus from a consortium to a single integrated company, which took effect in July 2001.
	In the past 5 years British Aerospace / BAE SYSTEMS received the following funding for a number of projects under the DTI's civil aeronautics research programme:
	
		£ million 
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1997–98 2.8 
			 1998–99 2.1 
			 1999–2000 3.4 
			 2000–01 2.0 
			 2001–02 1.5 
		
	
	Following the restructuring of Airbus, a number of the civil aeronautics research projects—which had a value of £1.1 million in 2001–02—were novated to Airbus UK.
	The company has also participated in a number of LINK collaborative projects, part-funded by DTI.

Rural Awareness

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  when her Department will have rural proofing embedded in policy-making procedures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02";
	(2)  when her Department will establish rural targets and monitoring as part of overall rural proofing measures as set out in the Countryside Agency's report, "Rural Proofing in 2001–02";
	(3)  when her Department will introduce measures to raise rural awareness through staff (a) training, (b) development and (c) secondments as part of overall rural proofing measures set out in the Countryside Agency's report "Rural Proofing in 2001–02".

Alan Johnson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to this question by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 May 2002, Official Report, columns 273–74W.

Refrigerants

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received concerning the equity of international standards-setting guidelines for refrigerants; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received several representations from manufacturers of hydrocarbon refrigerants.

Refrigerants

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made concerning United Kingdom Government policy on HFCs to the international standards-setting body responsible for refrigeration standards.

Brian Wilson: None. The standardisation process is independent of governments: representation is made through national standards bodies which, for the UK, is the British Standards Institution.

Milk

Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer the matter of the sale of milk to the competition authorities.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 7 May 2002
	Under UK competition legislation the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for monitoring markets and investigating allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. Any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should be sent directly to the Office of Fair Trading.

Directory Inquiries

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the market for directory inquiries services will be open to new entrants.

Douglas Alexander: The opening of the market for Directory enquiries is a matter for Oftel. New Codes facilitating the introduction of competition in this area will be introduced from October 2002.

Directory Inquiries

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by what method directory inquiry calls will be routed after the market is opened to new entrants.

Douglas Alexander: The regulation of the market for directory inquiries services is a matter for the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). The Director General of Telecommunications will write to the hon. Member with details of how directory inquiry calls will be routed after the market is opened to new entrants.

Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema Claims

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will set out the policy issues which need to be resolved to enable final settlements to be made to chronic bronchitis and emphysema claims.

Brian Wilson: The Department has now agreed a revised version of Schedule 10 of the Claims Handling Agreement (CHA) with the claimants' solicitors. Schedule 10 determines the level of special damages to which a claimant is entitled. In addition, small cohorts of claimants are affected by on-going negotiations on surface dust and coal-mining related co-defendants.

Consignia

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 792W, what discussions between Consignia and parties other than the Dutch post office regarding a possible sale of, merger with, or equity investment in, Consignia have taken place in the last 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: Apart from the negotiations with TPG about a possible merger as set out in my answer on 1 May 2002, Official Report, column 792W, the Department have not been notified, during the last 12 months, about any discussions between Consignia and other parties regarding a possible sale of equity, merger or equity investment.

Universal Bank

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made with discussions with the European Commission on the EU rules which forbid the Governments of member states from subsidising banks in relation to the proposed universal bank project.

Douglas Alexander: The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to universal banking services. It informed the Government in February 2002 that it considers the measures notified to it to be compatible with the common market.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by the administration section of the Export Credits Guarantee Department under code B4 (Grant and transfers: current) in the appropriation accounts on IT expenditure in the last five financial years; how much was paid to each IT company; what the nature of the project was; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 8 May 2002
	Details of amounts of money paid to individual companies are commercially confidential. I have listed ECGD's total spend on IT for each financial year 1997–98 to 2000–01 and broken the total down into five areas of expenditure. Copies are available in the Library. Also provided are the names of the companies employed by ECGD to provide IT services in those years and an outline of the services provided. I have not included figures for 2001–02 as these have yet to be audited.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much has been spent by the administration section of the Export Credits Guarantee Department under code B4 (Grant and transfers: current) in the appropriation accounts on consultancy fees in the last five financial years; how much was paid to each consultancy company; what the nature was of the project in each year; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 8 May 2002
	Details of amounts of money paid to individual companies are commercially confidential. I have listed ECGD's total spend on consultancy for each of the financial years 1997–98 to 2000–01, the names of the companies or individuals employed by ECGD as consultants in those years and an outline of the service provided. Figures for 2001–02 have not been included as these have yet to be audited.
	
		Year 1997–98: Consultancy spend £146,501.71
		
			 Company or individual Service provided 
		
		
			 C.O.I. Publications 
			 CDR International Training 
			 Coda plc Accountancy 
			 Doyle Clutton Associates Accountancy 
			 Four Acre Accountants Ltd. Accountancy 
			 French Thornton Change Management Consultancy 
			 Hays Accountancy Personnel Recruitment 
			 Idon Ltd. Training 
			 KPMG CHAPS Recruitment 
			 Marketing Improvements Group plc Customer Survey 
			 Pricewaterhouse Coopers Review of Aircraft Finance Practice 
			 Record Currency Management Ltd. Training 
			 Standard and Poors NY Corporate Risk Consultancy 
		
	
	
		Year 1998–99: Consultancy spend £331,821.49
		
			 Company or individual Service provided 
		
		
			 David Parker Translation 
			 Emslie Phelps Training 
			 Environmental Resources Management Environment Policy Consultancy 
			 French Thornton Change Management Consultancy 
			 IBM UK Ltd. IT Services 
			 KPMG Internal Audit Consultancy 
			 Lavant Consulting Ltd. Business Adviser 
			 Marketing Improvements Group Customer Survey 
			 Rimell Associates IT Services 
			 Standard and Poor's Rating Group Risk Management Consultancy 
			 Standard and Poor's NY Risk Management Consultancy 
		
	
	
		Year 1999–2000: Consultancy spend £514,649.98
		
			 Company or individual Service provided 
		
		
			 CMG (UK) Ltd. IT Services 
			 David Parker Translation 
			 Deloitte and Touche Accountancy 
			 Emslie Phelps Training 
			 Ernst and Young Risk Management 
			 Jean Caines Press and Public Relations Consultancy 
			 KPMG Risk Management Review 
			 National Economic Research Assocs. Economic Rationale Review 
			 Record Currency Management Ltd. Financial Risk Management 
			 Standard and Poors Rating Group Training 
		
	
	
		Year 2000–01: Consultancy spend £757,681.14
		
			 Company or individual Service provided 
		
		
			 Alan Brown Risk Management 
			 Atalink Ltd. Publications 
			 Berry Palmer and Lyle Ltd. Active Portfolio Management Project 
			 C.O.I. Publications 
			 CMG (UK) Ltd. IT Services 
			 Coda Group Holdings Ltd. Financial 
			 Deloitte and Touche Accountancy 
			 Dion Durrell and Associates Ltd. Active Portfolio Management Project 
			 Hays Accountancy Personnel Recruitment 
			 National Economic Research Assocs. Economic Rationale Review 
			 Record Currency Management Ltd. Financial Risk Management 
			 Risk Control Ltd. Risk Management 
			 Small Computer Company Training

Cold Calling

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the Government have to regulate the practice of cold calling.

Melanie Johnson: Protection is provided by the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987, the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000, the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 and the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Business Grants

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the grants and other help that she administers that are available to industrial and commercial businesses located in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Pendle.

Alan Johnson: DTI does not administer any grants or funding for businesses in Scotland or Wales with the exception of the Coal Operating Scheme. Other grants and funding are covered by the relevant devolved Administrations.
	Grants and business support services for small companies can be accessed via the local business link which is administered by the Small Business Service. The Small Business Service itself covers the whole UK but in Scotland and Wales the arrangements for business support delivery are again a matter for the devolved Administrations.
	In addition, small and medium sized enterprises in Pendle can apply for the Enterprise Grant Scheme, most of Pendle is covered by transitional Objective 2 of the European Structural Funds until 2005, and the North West Development Agency aims to promote business development in the region.
	The DTI publication 'Financing your Business' describes the various types of business finance available and lists sources of further information.

Postal Deliveries

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many derogations there are for addresses in (a) Aberdeenshire and (b) Banffshire where Royal Mail are not obliged to provide a delivery service direct to the door; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 9 May 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Mr. Brown) on 25 February 2002, Official Report, columns 847–48W.
	Since I gave that answer Postcomm issued a third interim Direction (which is still in force) on 26 March 2002 and I am placing a copy of that Direction in the Libraries of the House.

CASIM Project

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the assessment and location of the CASIM project.

Patricia Hewitt: Peer review assessments of both elements of the project, CASIM 4GLS and CASIM SIRIUS were considered by the Director General of Research Councils and the Research Councils' chief executives at a meeting on 16 April 2002. It was agreed that 4GLS should proceed to the next stage of the Office of Government Commerce Gateway review process. In the case of SIRIUS it was recommended that further discussions between the Office of Science and Technology and the Department of Health, the two main prospective funders, should take place before any decision was taken on project viability or location.

Edmonton B Power Station

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will decide on the development of the Edmonton B power station.

Brian Wilson: A decision will be announced shortly.

Unfair Trading

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received by the Competition Commission in respect of unfair trading in each year since its formation.

Melanie Johnson: Complaints of unfair trading are received by the Office of Fair Trading. Relevant statistics can be found in the OFT's annual report, a copy of which is available in the Libraries of the House.

Electricity Regulation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to update the electricity safety, quality and continuity regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The proposed Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations will replace the existing Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 (as amended). The main objective of the proposed Regulations is to improve safety standards in the new electricity market while preserving important public safety, power quality and supply continuity requirements in the existing Regulations. The draft Regulations will be finalised shortly following the public consultation exercise carried out last year and further discussions with interested parties since then. Allowing time for the approval process and publication of detailed Guidance Notes 12 weeks in advance of the introduction of regulations in accordance with Government guidelines, it is anticipated the new regulations will commence in November 2002.
	In addition to the Guidance Notes, the Government's response to the comments received during the public consultation exercise will be published in due course.

Energy Review

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as a result of the recent energy review, what discussions she is having with energy providers to ensure that account is taken of local security of supply.

Brian Wilson: I have requested a study into the resilience of the electricity supply networks in an emergency, in order to obtain reassurance that we have the best possible systems in place to avoid or minimise supply failure, together with examples of good practice in emergency preparedness. Our consultants, British Power International (BPI), visited all the electricity transmission and distribution licence-holding companies in mainland Britain during March, and will be reporting shortly.
	DTI's Engineering Inspectorate has been dealing with a small number of cases in which consumers in rural areas are complaining about frequent interruptions to their electricity supply, and Ofgem has taken important steps to strengthen the incentives on distribution companies to provide a good quality of service to consumers. From 1 April 2002 a new Guaranteed Standard of Performance was introduced which will mean that consumers that suffer more than three interruptions of more than three hours duration over the course of the year will receive a compensation payment of £50. This protection is directly aimed at 'worst-served' consumers. Ofgem has also introduced an incentive scheme for distribution companies that focuses on key areas quality of service—the number of interruptions to supply, the duration of interruptions to supply and the quality of telephone response provided by distribution companies. Taken together these mechanisms provide significant additional protection to consumers in respect of the quality of service they receive from distribution companies.
	The introduction of widespread distributed generation in electricity networks will certainly raise some technical issues not previously faced by electricity distributors. Close monitoring of developments in embedded generation is necessary by all those involved to ensure the emerging security of supply issues are identified and managed. Following on from the report of the joint DTI-Ofgem Embedded Generation Working Group (EGWG) in June 2001 www.dti.gov.uk/energy/egwg/ index.htm, the Government has recently established a Co-ordinating Group, jointly led by the DTI and Ofgem, to monitor the implementation of the EGWG recommendations and to advise Ministers of potential problems.

PRIME MINISTER

Royal Family

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the agreement in force between the Government and the Royal Family on the payment of death duties by members of the Royal Family.

Tony Blair: The inheritance tax arrangements are set out in paragraphs 20 to 23 of the Memorandum of Understanding in the Royal Trustees report (HC 464) published on 11 February 1993.

Royal Family

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure the will of the Her late Majesty the Queen Mother is published.

Tony Blair: In line with a long standing convention for dealing with the wills of senior members of the Royal Family, an order has been made by the High Court for the sealing up of the will of the late Queen Mother, which means that the will cannot be inspected or published. Therefore, I do not intend to take any steps to ensure publication of the will.

European Commission

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy towards the direct election of the President of the European Commission.

Tony Blair: It is not our policy.

Annual Government Report

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister if he will reconsider publishing an annual Government report.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 12 July 2001, Official Report, column 638W.

Young Offenders

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Prime Minister if the work of Professor Michael Barber contributed to his recently announced initiative to reduce child benefit payments to the mothers of persistent young offenders; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: No. This is one of a range of proposals which the responsible Departments are looking at.

Civil Servants

Theresa May: To ask the Prime Minister how many Ministers have concluded contractual agreements with civil servants which include a clause restricting the ability of parties to the agreement to make public statements since 1 May 1997.

Tony Blair: All civil servants are employed under terms and conditions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. Responsibility for personnel matters within individual Departments is delegated by the Minister to the Permanent Head of the Department.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Criminal Justice

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many construction projects are planned for use of agencies or organisations associated with the criminal justice system; for each project, what his estimate is of (a) completion date and (b) total cost to completion; what the involvement of the private sector is; and what provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within each project.

Des Browne: I am sorry for the delay in answering.
	Two construction projects are planned for the use of the Juvenile Justice Board (scheduled to become the Youth Justice Agency with effect from April 2003). The projects relate to the rationalisation of the Juvenile Justice Estate and were announced in Parliament by the then Northern Ireland Minister of State, Adam Ingram on 29 November 2000.
	The first project, phase 1, involves upgrading security and refurbishing the accommodation on the existing Rathgael site in Bangor, to facilitate the closure of Lisnevin. The construction project is scheduled to be completed by autumn 2002. The contract was awarded as a design and build project at a tender cost of £2.8 million. Private sector involvement in phase 1 relates to the appointment of a design team and main building contractor. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.
	The second project, phase 2, is the provision of a new, purpose designed centre, also to be located on land at Rathgael. When fully commissioned, the new centre will replace the phase 1 facility. Planning the phase 2 project is at a very early stage. It is estimated to take about four to five years to complete the project. It is not possible to give an accurate estimated cost, but based on similar facilities, it is anticipated that the cost should be in the region of £12 million to £15 million. In keeping with Government policy, we will be examining various procurement methods including PFI/PPP. It is intended to utilise various expertise from the private sector to establish the most cost-effective method of procuring this facility. The extent of their involvement will become clearer once the project has been properly scoped and all the issues addressed as part of the outline business case.
	As in phase 1, no provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems and other symbols on the exterior and interior of buildings within this project.
	The Northern Ireland Prison Service has three construction projects planned at present, a new inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry, at a cost of £1.9 million which will be completed in October 2003. New programmes village at HMP Magilligan at a cost of £1 million which will be completed in December 2002 and a new visitors reception at HM YOC Hydebank at a cost of £800,000 which is due for completion in January 2003.
	A private sector contractor will be involved in the design and construction of the inmates kitchen at HMP Maghaberry. The remaining projects will involve the private sector in the construction phase only. No provision has been made for the display of flags, emblems, and other symbols on the exterior or interior of the buildings.
	The Northern Ireland Court Service is at the very early stage of plans to build new courthouses in Lisburn and North Down with anticipated completion dates of 2005 and 2006 respectively. Public private partnership is the preferred funding route and, in this event, the only costs incurred at completion would be consultancy from the private sector estimated at £500,000. All construction work will be carried out by the private sector. Construction work for a courthouse in Dungannon is already under way and is due for completion in November this year, at an approximate cost of £11 million. This is not a public private partnership project. Provision for the display of flags, emblems or other symbols at these venues will be in accordance with Government policy as articulated in the Criminal Justice Review Implementation Plan and the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill. The practical steps to give effect to this policy would be taken at the appropriate stage in the construction project.
	The Northern Ireland Office has entered into an agreement with the Northern Ireland Bar to rent a new headquarters building for the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The building is currently being constructed by Bar Library Services Ltd. and is due to be completed by 31 December 2002.
	As part of the Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland the DPP will be undertaking an exercise to consider the development of offices outside Belfast. The extent and number of such have not yet been identified.
	The Government's policy on the display of flags at Government buildings is set out in the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. The display of emblems and other symbols is in accordance with the Belfast Agreement which acknowledged the sensitivity of the use of symbols for public purposes, and the need to ensure that such symbols are used in a manner which promotes mutual respect rather than division.

De Chastelain Process

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the de Chastelain process is responsible for monitoring terrorists groups' acquisitions of new weapons.

Jane Kennedy: No. General de Chastelain's remit is to facilitate the decommissioning of all paramilitary weapons as set out in August 1997 in the Agreement between this Government and the Government of the Republic of Ireland.

Castlereagh Police Station

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report into the break-in at Castlereagh Police Station on 17 March will be completed.

Jane Kennedy: Sir John Chilcot is currently conducting his review into the national security implications of the break-in at Castlereagh police station which is running in parallel with the criminal investigation. Both the review and the investigation must be allowed to take their course and I have not set a deadline for Sir John to complete his work.

Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether the Belfast International Airport Constabulary will be brought within the remit of the new Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice;
	(2)  what progress has been made since 19 April to produce a comprehensive list of organisations to come within the remit of the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice.

Des Browne: During the passage of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill through the House of Commons, I undertook to review the list of organisations within the remit of the Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice. I have written to initiate consultations with 19 organisations and I am awaiting final responses from a number of these. It is important that there is proper consultation with these organisations before final decisions are taken. As part of the consultation process, and to assist in identifying functions within these organisations which it might be appropriate to bring within the inspectorate's remit, a number of useful exploratory meetings have taken place. The Belfast International Airport Authority is one of the bodies with whom consultations are progressing.

Departmental Spending

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1997–98 and each subsequent financial year the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies in respect of hotel and other similar privately-provided accommodation (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad for (A) Ministers, (B) staff and (C) other persons; if he will list the proportion of this cost incurred in respect of (x) food and (y) alcohol in each case; and if he will list the average cost per hotel room or similar unit of accommodation provided in each case.

John Reid: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Spending

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, including the current year to date, the amount spent by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on (i) food and (ii) alcohol, indicating how much was spent on guests, and how much in respect of (A) Ministers and (B) staff, broken down to show how much was provided directly by his Department and how much reclaimed.

John Reid: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Pensions

Michael Jack: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the annual financial effect was on the Church of England's pension arrangements of the removal of the payable tax credit was in the last 12 months.

Stuart Bell: The removal of the tax credit has reduced the Church Commissioners' investment returns and cut the amount of money available to support the Church by £7 million p.a. It has also increased the cost of pension contributions over the last 12 months by £3 million. Both these sums have had to be raised by dioceses and parishes from their congregations.

Church Repairs

Anne McIntosh: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost was to the Church Commissioners of church repairs in the last financial year.

Stuart Bell: The cost of church repairs is borne by the individual church congregations and figures are not held centrally. However, as the House will already know from previous answers, following a survey the estimated cost of repairs to and maintenance of Anglican Churches in 1999 was £120 million. No more recent survey has been undertaken.
	These figures do not include the huge hidden subsidy of voluntary support within parishes or of the expert guidance within the faculty jurisdiction system.
	The Commissioners have some small liabilities for the chancels of around 800 parish churches. In 2000, this cost almost £700,000.

Franks Allotments, Walcote

Andrew Robathan: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the proposal by the Diocese of Leicester to sell the Franks allotments in Walcote.

Stuart Bell: No, Sir. The land in question belongs to the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education and the Church Commissioners have no connection with any proposals to sell it.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legislation is required to permit the construction of the proposed asylum accommodation centres; what powers his Department has to prepare for their construction before such legislation has received Royal Assent; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I am sorry the hon. Member has not received an earlier reply, this was due to an administrative error.
	There are existing powers in part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 which permit the Home Secretary to acquire property for the purposes of providing accommodation for destitute asylum seekers and their dependants.
	New powers in relation to accommodation centres are in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill which was published on 12 April 2002.

Asylum and Immigration Legislation

Iain Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish a bill on asylum and immigration; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: I am very sorry for the delay in replying to my hon. Friend; this was due to an administrative error. The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill was published on 12 April 2002.

Asylum Seekers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it is planned that monetary support for asylum seekers through the ARC card system will be provided in cash only; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: All financial support for asylum seekers is being provided in cash using existing systems. Later in the year it is envisaged that asylum seekers will use their Application Registration Care (ARC)—which will provide a useful way of verifying their identity—to access their financial support which will be provided in cash.

Mr. W. R. Glenie

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the Immigration Office to return the passport belonging to Mr. W. R. Glenie of Kingsbridge, Devon, lodged on 14 December 2001, by 21 March; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in processing it.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 18 March 2002
	I am very sorry for the delay in replying to the hon. Member this was due to an administrative error. Mr. Glenie's documents were returned to him on 18 March 2002 following completion of his fiancée's application for leave to remain.

Unpaid Advisers

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names of the unpaid advisers appointed by him and his predecessor since June 1997, stating in each case (a) the date of their appointment, (b) the duration of their appointment and (c) the project or projects on which they have been engaged.

David Blunkett: holding answer 25 March 2002
	Since the period June 1997, the Home Office has not appointed any unpaid advisers in line with the requirements of paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code.
	For details of unpaid appointments made by the Home Office to task forces, review groups and other ad hoc advisory groups, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. friend for Shipley (Christopher Leslie) on 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 958W.

Public Service Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new initiatives his Department has taken in 2001–02 to assist in achieving its public service agreement targets.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 10 April 2002
	Information about progress on Public Service Agreement targets will be published in the Home Office's 2002 Departmental Report.

UK Citizenship

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revoke the UK citizenship of a person whose name has been communicated to him; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: There are no present plans to deprive the person in question of British citizenship, but we will keep this under review.

Robert Brown

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to initiate the rehabilitation of Robert Brown.

Beverley Hughes: Mr. Brown has been offered a range of offending behaviour work and non offence-related courses, including for example, anger management, reasoning and rehabilitation and a pre-release course. He has declined most of these but this should not inhibit him from progressing towards his release. In addition, he has been offered the opportunity for escorted town visits to aid his reintegration into the community but has declined to participate. He has also been encouraged to engage in the sentence planning process and has been assisted to address his use of drugs in prison successfully. His suitability for transfer to a resettlement regime in an open prison will shortly be considered by the parole board.

Inter-country Adoption

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the countries from which young children up to the age of five years were allowed entry into the UK for legal adoption in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: Information on the number of children admitted to the United Kingdom from overseas countries for adoption is not currently available.
	The information that is available covers the number of children up to the age of five years given indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom (UK) on the basis of adoption. This number excludes those children given limited leave to remain and who are subsequently adopted through the UK courts, becoming British citizens on the date that the final adoption order is made.
	A total of around 20 adopted children up to the age of five were given indefinite leave to remain in 2000, the latest information available. The nationalities of the children were:
	Chile
	China
	Guatemala
	India
	Jamaica
	Lebanon
	Nigeria
	Pakistan
	St. Lucia
	Trinidad and Tobago
	Ukraine
	United States of America
	Vietnam
	Zimbabwe.
	We aim to publish 2001 data in July/August 2002.

National Asylum Support Service

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many supported asylum seekers received a £50 additional single payment from the National Asylum Support Service under regulation 11(1) of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 in (a) 2000–01 and (b) 2001–02; and what the total amount paid out in the form of such payments by NASS is since 3 April 2000.

Angela Eagle: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) does not keep central statistics in respect of the number and total value of single additional payments it makes to supported asylum seekers.
	Payment of a single additional payment (SAP) is achieved by increasing one of the regular weekly subsistence payments by the required £50. The value of all regular weekly payments is stored within each individual's computer record, together with associated explanation. NASS can, therefore, confirm the payment of a SAP to an individual and could ultimately obtain the requested statistics, but the cost in doing so would be disproportionate.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will answer the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 9 January concerning Hazir Ymeri.

Angela Eagle: My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Rooker wrote to the hon. Member on 8 May 2002. I apologise for the delay.

MI5

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sought to obtain agreement from the Director General of MI5 to allow them to begin paid employment outside the service in each year from 1 May 1997.

David Blunkett: holding answer 8 May 2002
	Since 1 May 1997 three people of Director grade or above sought the Director General's agreement before accepting employment, or establishing or engaging in consultancies, within two years of retirement or resignation. In each case the applications were approved unconditionally.
	Any member of staff, irrespective of grade is required to seek approval from the Director of Establishments for the Service before taking up employment with a business or organisation with which they have had direct or indirect dealings within the last two years of service. No central record is kept of such requests or authorisations.

Illegal Meat Imports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with other Government Departments on the (a) level of illegal meat imports to the UK and (b) effectiveness of port controls and enforcement measures to tackle illegal meat imports in respect of his responsibilities for border control and immigration.

Angela Eagle: I am extremely sorry for the delay in replying to the hon. Member. This was due to an administrative error.
	Home Office Ministers regularly have discussions with ministerial colleagues and officials in many parts of Government. In line with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information details of such confidential discussions are not normally disclosed.
	Department officials have met colleagues in other Government Departments to assist in co-ordinating action across Government to ensure that rules on imports of all products are enforced effectively. The Immigration Service has instructed its officers at ports of arrival to be vigilant and where appropriate, to refuse entry to the United Kingdom to those offenders identified as being engaged in the illegal importation of meat and meat products.

Building Projects

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the building projects under construction; and what coolant will be used for the building services water chilling system for such projects.

Angela Eagle: A list covering the projects in construction for the Home Office, including Prison Service, but excluding maintenance works and non- departmental public bodies has been placed in the Library. Most of the projects listed, do not involve the use of cooling systems. Records are not held centrally of the type of cooling systems or the coolants used and to provide this information would be at disproportionate cost. Where coolants are to be used on non-prison projects, these are currently planned to be either R407(a), R407(c) or R134(a) although these could be subject to change in the course of the works.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Departmental Functions

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the functions of his Department that have been (a) market tested and (b) outsourced in each of the last five years, specifying the (i) money saving and (ii) percentage saving in each case.

Michael Wills: The Lord Chancellor's Department has not market-tested any functions over the last five years. It has outsourced the following functions during this period:
	December 1997: ARAMIS, a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract for the provision of accounting, financial, payroll and Management Information Services—a money saving of £122.41 million over 9 years three months at 1998 prices;
	July 1999: Probate Records Centre, a PFI contract for the design, build, financing and operation of central probate records store for England and Wales—a money saving of £16.4 million over 25 years at 1999 prices;
	September 2001: Pensions administration—a money saving of £260,759 over three years at today's prices.
	The answer does not provide money saving and percentage saving because the combination of the two would allow contractual payments to contractors to be identified. This information is commercially confidential and is withheld under exemption 13 of the Code of Practice On Access to Government Information.

WORK AND PENSIONS

PCS Union Strike

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if it is his policy that participation of staff in the PCS Union strike action be taken into account in future decisions on promotion.

Nick Brown: No.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the publications issued by his Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Nick Brown: To keep people aware of their rights, responsibilities and eligibility for benefit the Department issues many hundreds of publications each year. To list each title, its circulation, cost and purpose would be at disproportionate cost.

Housing Payment Scheme

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the budget for the discretionary housing payment scheme is broken down by local authority;
	(2)  what the budget was for the exceptional hardship payment scheme in (a) cash and (b) real terms since 1997, broken down by local authority;
	(3)  what the reasons were for changing from the exceptional hardship payment scheme to the discretionary housing payment scheme; and how the change was announced.

Malcolm Wicks: From 2 July 2001 we replaced the exceptional hardship and exceptional circumstances schemes with improved arrangements that are broader in scope than the old regulatory provisions. Subject to certain conditions, local authorities are now able to give additional payments to any person whose housing benefit or council tax benefit is restricted where they are satisfied the person is in need of further financial assistance with housing costs or council tax liability. Unlike the old scheme there are no prescribed definitions of either "exceptional hardship" or "exceptional circumstances". The new measures give local authorities and incentive to direct funds to helping those people most in need.
	The introduction of the discretionary housing payments scheme was announced in the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck) on 13 July 2000, Official Report, column 638W. Implementation of the scheme was deferred until July 2001 in response to representations from local authorities.
	The discretionary housing payments scheme budget for 2002–03 by local authority is in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular A/2002, a copy of which is available in the Library.
	The available details of the budget by local authority for the exceptional hardship scheme since 1997 (and for the discretionary housing payments scheme between July 2001 and March 2002) in both cash and real terms have been placed in the Library.

E-business

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the percentage of business transactions that are capable of being carried out electronically by his Department.

Nick Brown: holding answer 14 March 2002
	Currently our customers can easily access electronic information on all our benefits and services via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website or through the life episodes on UKonline. People looking for work can access the worktrain website and Job Bank to interactively search for job opportunities—this is one of the most used Government sites.
	In addition, almost 70 of our benefits have claim forms available on the internet which customers can access, fill out, print out and submit back to us. Electronic payments can also be made directly into customers' bank accounts.
	But, in line with the cross-Government target of electronically e-enabling all services by 2005, and also rising trends in our customer base to use interactive media, we are undertaking a programme of radical change to our IT systems which will allow full e-enablement.

Criminal Damage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of criminal damage to his Department's buildings in each of the last four years.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the terms of the Prime contract, responsibility for meeting the costs of repairing damage to former DSS buildings falls to Trillium. Accordingly, no central records are kept and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Public Bodies

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what have been the total salary costs of each of the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible in each of the last five years.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available for the period before April 2000. Such information that is available is in the following table. The costs given in the table are the total fees paid to members of each of the non-departmental bodies for the year stated.
	The amount paid out in fees is mainly dependant upon the number of referrals made by the Department to the three advisory councils. Increased activity required of the advisory councils in 2001–02 has therefore resulted in an overall increase in the amount of fees paid.
	
		Fees for non-departmental public bodies
		
			  2000–01 2001–02  
			  Number of members claiming fees Number of claims for fees Total amount of fees paid (£) Number of members claiming fees Number of claims for fees Total amount of fees paid (£) 
		
		
			 Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board 21 119 27,248.60 20 130 35,192.33 
			 Industrial Injuries Advisory Council 15 77 8,097.16 15 85 9,110.72 
			 Pensions Compensation Board 2 4 684.00 2 6 1,056.00 
			 Social Security Advisory Committee 13 96 23,067.24 16 113 29,283.27 
			  
			 Total 51 296 59,097.00 53 334 74,642.32

Mr. W. J. Baber

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Leominster dated 27 February on behalf of Mr. W. J. Baber concerning non-payment of incapacity benefit in the first three days of illness.

Nick Brown: I replied to the hon. Member on 18 April.

Autism

Stephen Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what training employment advisers are given in respect of the needs of people with autistic spectrum disorders who are seeking work.

Maria Eagle: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive, Leigh Lewis. I have asked him to reply to my hon. Friend.
	Letter from Leigh Lewis to Dr. Stephen Ladyman, dated 13 May 2002
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the training employment advisers are given in respect of the needs of people with autistic spectrum disorders who are seeking work.
	Disability awareness open learning materials are available to all advisers, and are an important pre-requisite for attendance on all disability training courses. The open learning materials contain information provided by the National Autistic Society and its associated 'Prospects' employment programme to support people with Asperger syndrome. The topics covered are;
	What is autism?
	What causes autism?
	What is Asperger syndrome?
	What causes Asperger syndrome?
	Tips for advisers
	Useful techniques for interviewing
	Potential benefits of employing people with autism/Aspergers syndrome
	Difficulties that may occur in the work place
	Employment Support
	Where to go for more help
	In addition, advisers have access to a Special Needs External Organisations Directory which includes information on autism and Asperger syndrome.
	I hope this is helpful.

Long-stay Patient Benefit

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long-stay patients' benefit;
	(2)  how many people in the United Kingdom are in receipt of long- stay patient benefit.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows:
	As at 30 September 2001 there were 10,000 retirement pensioners whose pension had been reduced because they had been in hospital for more than 52 weeks.
	As at 30 November 2001 there were 13,000 incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance recipients whose benefit was reduced due to them being in hospital for more than 52 weeks.
	As at 30 November 2001 there were 3,000 income support recipients who had their benefit reduced due to being in hospital for more than 52 weeks.
	The hospital downrating rules prevents double provision from public funds as the publicly funded NHS maintains people while they stay in hospital as well as providing free treatment. Social security maintenance benefits are also paid from state funds. They are therefore not paid in full indefinitely where a person is in a NHS hospital and having their day to day living expenses met through the NHS.
	The double provision principle is a key cornerstone of the system of national insurance introduced over 50 years ago.

Recruitment

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many net additional staff his Department has recruited in each month since June 2001 at (a) executive officer level and (b) administrative level.

Maria Eagle: Data on staffing levels in the civil service are collected by the Cabinet Office twice yearly, with figures being reported as at 1 April and 1 October. Headline figures are published under National Statistics guidelines via a press notice. Those for October 2001 were published on 21 February 2002 and are available in the Library. Figures are not collected centrally on a month to month basis.

Digital Equipment

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many digital radios are owned by his Department for use in departmental buildings from which Ministers work; and what the (a) cost and (b) date of purchase of each radio was.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 26 April 2002
	None.

Access to Work Scheme

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications have been received monthly since the creation of Access to Work; and what proportion of those applications have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected broken down by grounds for rejection.

Nick Brown: From the start of the Access to Work programme in June 1994 to 31 March 2001, 54,481 applications have been supported, an average of 262 new applications a month. Eligibility is discussed prior to any application being made, so applications are made only by those eligible for help through Access to Work.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Process (Participation)

Martin Linton: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if he will ask the Electoral Commission to report on measures to increase participation in elections following the turnout in the local elections.

Alan Beith: In accordance with its statutory obligations, the Electoral Commission will be evaluating the pilot schemes implemented by 30 local authorities across England at the May 2002 local elections. These pilot schemes were aimed at increasing turnout and modernising the electoral process. The Commission will submit its evaluation reports to the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions by 2 August, and the reports will be published.

Misleading Election Material

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the effect on turnout of the distribution of deliberately wrong information in election material.

Alan Beith: I understand from the Chairman that the Commission has made no assessment of the effect on turnout of the distribution of deliberately wrong information in election material. The publication of false statements of fact in relation to a candidate may amount to an illegal practice under section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 and should be reported to the police.

Local Elections (Administration)

Simon Hughes: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the Electoral Commission will assess the operations of the local elections of 2 May; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Beith: The commission has a statutory duty to report on the conduct of a range of elections, including Parliamentary general elections, European Parliament elections, and elections to the Scottish Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and National Assembly for Wales. There is no statutory obligation for the commission to report on the operation of local elections, but the commission will be evaluating the electoral pilot schemes held in 30 local authority areas in May 2002. The commission's evaluation is expected to be published in August 2002.

Public Bodies (Scrutiny)

David Rendel: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what extra resources the commission will provide to enable the National Audit Office to carry out more examinations of executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Alan Williams: Following the commission's consideration in March of the National Audit Office's Estimate for 2002–03, I wrote the Comptroller and Auditor General asking him how the NAO, through further Value for Money Studies (on top of the 50 or so a year at present), could expand the scope of scrutiny—and thus the perceived risk of scrutiny—among accountable bodies, in particular executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. The commission will consider any proposals in this direction from the Comptroller and Auditor General when they review the National Audit Office's Corporate Plan for 2003 to 2006 in the summer.

Proportional Representation (Scotland)

John Robertson: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent discussions the Commission has had with the Scottish Executive regarding proportional representation in Scotland.

Alan Beith: I understand from the Chairman of the Commission that Commissioners and staff meet regularly with members and staff of the Scottish Executive. However, no discussions regarding proportional representation have taken place with the Scottish Executive. The Commission has no statutory responsibilities in respect of local elections in Scotland and so does not intend to comment on the Executive's current consultation exercise about the possible extension of proportional representation to local government elections.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Pre-school Funding

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 711W, on pre-school funding, when the Ofsted and QCA files referred to will be placed in the Library.

Margaret Hodge: Following further investigation into the matter with staff operating in the area at the time, we have established that the decision was reached on the basis of verbal discussions between the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority and the Department for Education and Employment, in 1997. No records of those discussions have been traced.
	Given that the guidelines have been in place for a significant time I will keep the situation under review.

Criminal Damage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost has been of criminal damage to her Department's buildings in each of the last four years.

Ivan Lewis: The cost of criminal damages against the Department's buildings where the police were involved was approximately £5,000 in 2001. During the previous three years no costs were incurred.

Further Education Colleges

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the outcomes of imposing efficiency targets on further education colleges since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: The Government has sought to improve the efficiency of further education since 1997 and colleges have delivered real improvements in value for money. Since 1996–97 the participation funding for each full-time equivalent (FTE) student has remained constant in real terms, while total funding for each FTE student has increased by 12 per cent. in real terms (reflecting the additional funds targeted on much needed capital developments, standards and teachers pay). Over the same period colleges have widened participation among learners, broadened programmes of study for 16–19- year-olds and increased basic skills provision. Qualification success rates for long (24 weeks or over) qualifications have increased from 51 per cent. in 1996–97 to 56 per cent. in 1999–2000 (the latest year available). When shorter courses are also taken into account, qualification success rates have increased from 56 per cent. in 1996–97 to 60 per cent. in 1999–2000. The Government recognises that investment is important for raising standards further and will set out future funding plans for colleges as part of the Spending Review outcome.

Further Education Colleges

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements have been (a) placed on and (b) removed from further education and sixth form colleges in the last year for which information is available.

Margaret Hodge: The following major requirements were placed upon further education colleges and sixth from colleges in England during the financial year 2001–02.
	A requirement for all new teachers entering further education from 1 September 2001 to hold, or acquire within two to four years, an FE teaching qualification or schools equivalent.
	Colleges have been made subject to inspection by Ofsted and the Adult Learning Inspectorate by virtue of the Learning and Skills Act 2000.
	A requirement for colleges to follow replacement Instrument and Articles of Government for all colleges in the FE sector effective from 1 April 2001.
	The requirement to meet the terms of the previous Instrument and Articles of Government was removed.
	In addition, the Learning and Skills Council is responsible for funding further education and sixth form colleges, and also places requirements on colleges. I have therefore asked the chief executive of the LSC, John Harwood, to write to you directly on this matter.

Work-based Learning

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of whether there are sufficient resources in the Standards Fund for 2002–03 to improve the provider infrastructure for work-based learning.

Margaret Hodge: We have increased standards funding from £160 million in 2001–02 to £185 million in 2002–03. We have also ensured that work-based learning providers have access to the new Learning and Skills Standards Fund from April 2002. Local LSCs will allocate standards funding to providers based on individual need and national and local priorities and targets. An evaluation of the impact of the new Fund's operation, including provision for work-based learning, is planned to start in the Autumn of 2002.

Teachers' Salaries

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will award additional resources to the Learning and Skills Council to cover salary increases for (a) sixth form staff and (b) general FE staff agreed as part of their central negotiation structure.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 April 2002
	The investments we are making via the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to support both school sixth forms and further education colleges should ensure that staff receive appropriate salary increases this year. The real terms guarantee (RTG) for schools with sixth forms means that their funding will be protected at least at 2000–01 levels, providing pupil numbers are maintained. Indeed in 2002–03 around two thirds of sixth forms will benefit with higher funding from the LSC's formula funding and the remaining third will be funded at their RTG level.
	We are also investing significant funding in the FE sector. In 2001–02, £527 million extra was planned for FE—a 12 per cent. real terms increase, with a further 3 per cent. increase this year. By 2003–04, annual funding for FE will have increased by £1.4 billion compared with 1997–98, a real terms increase of 26 per cent. It is for each college to agree annual pay rises and conditions of employment with its staff in the context of the overall resources available to them. Within the total funds for FE, the Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) budget is £311 million over the period 2001–04. This is to reward excellent teaching and is over and above any general pay rise.

Teachers' Salaries

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will take steps to ensure parity of pay scales between teachers working in further education and teachers working in schools.

Margaret Hodge: Teachers in maintained schools are subject to national school teachers' pay and conditions. Further education sector colleges are run by independent corporations established under the Further Education and Higher Education Act 1992 and there is no national pay structure in place. Colleges are free to establish pay scales that meet their needs and can be agreed with their staff. This Government have acknowledged the historic funding gap between schools and FE and we have pledged to bring up levels of funding and ensure upward convergence over time. The Teaching Pay Initiative (TPI) budget is £311 million over the period 2001–04. This is to reward excellent teaching and is over and above any general pay rise. The additional investment we are making in the FE sector should help support the pay aspirations of their staff.

Higher Education

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent improvements the Government have made to buildings and teaching facilities in higher education.

Margaret Hodge: In 1999–2000 the Government made available £35 million in England for higher education capital funding. In the succeeding years, the amounts made available were £50 million, £100 million, £145 million, and in 2003–04 £194 million, to support the teaching infrastructure, modernise and improve the estates and build new medical schools. Of this, £56 million over two years to 2003–04 is to help institutions meet the cost of the statutory changes relating to the access parts of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001.
	To this, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) adds funding which it finds from its own resources to promote capital investment, often with contributions from others. For example, between 1998–99 and 2002–03 the HEFCE Poor Estates Initiative has invested £291 million in the sector, supporting 149 projects at 80 institutions with a total value of £950 million.
	Alongside this, the Government, in partnership with the Wellcome Trust, have plans to invest some £1.75 billion in research infrastructure in universities and elsewhere over the four years to 2003–04.

Higher Education

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much more investment has been put into higher education in the current spending review than in the previous year.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1998, the total additional funding for institutions is £1.7 billion, an increase of 37 per cent. in cash terms or 18 per cent. in real terms over the six years to 2003–04. Publicly planned funding for higher education in England in 2001–02 is £396 million more than in 2000–01, so that for the first time in over a decade funding per student will rise in real terms, and further expansion of student places will be fully funded in the following two years. In addition the sector will benefit from £1 billion joint Welcome Trust and Government investment in research and technology infrastructure between 2002 and 2004, plus further funding of £250 million over the three years to 2003–04 through the Office of Science and Technology for priority research in areas such as e-science and genomics.

Higher Education

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's definition is of higher education in the context of her Department's target for 50 per cent. of all 18 to 30-year-olds to experience higher education by 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are committed to increasing and widening participation in higher education so that more young people benefit from the opportunities that higher education brings in terms of employability, earnings and quality of life. At the same time, we want to ensure that we meet the UK's needs for a highly skilled, competitive work force.
	We measure participation in higher education by means of the Initial Entry Rate (IER). The IER includes all courses of one year or more, above A-level and its equivalents, which lead to a qualification awarded by higher education institutions or widely recognised national awarding bodies (eg. the Institute of Management).
	We are also currently seeking advice from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority regarding a very small number of professional qualifications of less than one year's duration, for example in nursing, law, business and management. The QCA will advise us whether the nature and content of these qualifications could appropriately be classified as being of higher education standard.

Child Care

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children's places there were in (a) Southwark, (b) London and (c) England in (i) May 1997, (ii) May 2001 and (iii) April 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 May 2002
	The information is not available in the form requested. The available information, which was provided by local authorities, is shown in the table.
	Latest figures on day care facilities in England were published by my Department in the Statistical Bulletin "Children's Day Care facilities at 31 March 2001 (08/01)" in October 2001, a copy of which is available from the Library. An electronic copy of this publication is also available on my Department's website (www.dfes.gov.uk/ statistics).
	From 1998 to 2001 Southwark has received £837,370 of child care and European Social Fund supported grant funding. In 2001–02 £240,765 of European Social Fund money and £2,961,854 of child care funding was available for Southwark's early years development. Of this £2,301,424 is funding from the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative (NNI), which hopes to create 45,000 child care places in Neighbourhood Nursery Centres in disadvantaged areas over the period 2001–04. In 2002–03 Southwark will receive £754,430 of child care and European Social Fund supported grant funding.
	
		Day care places for children under 8 in 1997 and 2001—Southwark, London and England (position at March 31 each year)
		
			Day nurseries  Childminders  Playgroups Out of school clubs  Holiday schemes(9)  
			   1997 2001 1997 2001 1997 2001 1997 2001 1997 2001 
		
		
			 Southwark 1,650 1,906 1,048 1,081 1,111 904 2,077 3,113 2,305 4,940 
			
			 Greater London 27,650 44,834 47,562 38,504 41,534 31,111 13,731 32,207 45,574 140,261 
			 Inner London(10) 15,052 22,751 13,106 10,639 9,899 8,405 8,180 20,422 19,210 63,180 
			 Outer London(10) 12,598 22,083 34,456 27,865 31,635 22,706 5,551 11,785 26,364 77,081 
			
			 England 193,800 285,100 365,200 304,600 383,700 330,200 78,700 152,800 209,000 598,000 
		
	
	(9) Holiday schemes cannot be directly compared due to changes in instructions given to data providers.
	(10) The 2001 definition of inner and outer London is used.

Engineering Qualifications

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent representations she has received in respect of new vocational qualifications in engineering; if she will make it her policy to extend funding approval for existing qualifications pending further consultation on the curriculum design of the new qualifications; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have received representations from the National Forum for Engineering in Colleges. I am aware of the importance of existing qualifications to the continued running of Modern Apprenticeships and have consequently asked the Learning and Skills Council to identify which are essential until new accredited qualifications can replace them. The LSC is working closely with relevant sector bodies, including EMTA for engineering, to that end. Once the qualifications are identified and following consultation with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, I will take action to approve them. Outside the Modern Apprenticeship context, approvals will be limited to qualifications accredited by the QCA. Persons over 19 should have no problem in accessing existing courses, as LSC funding for them is not dependent on there being an approved qualification.

Engineering Course

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of whether the new AVCE engineering course has been introduced as intended; and if she will make a statement on the opportunity the course gives students to achieve grades that will enable them to follow their chosen career paths;
	(2)  what action she is taking to ensure that students undertaking the AVCE engineering course will attain grades appropriate to their achievement in their course of study;
	(3)  what discussions she has had with the Chief Inspector on the examination of the AVCE course in engineering;
	(4)  what action she has taken to ensure high quality assessment of students undertaking the AVCE course;
	(5)  what discussions she has had with further education colleges on the AVCE engineering course examinations assessment;
	(6)  what action she is taking to ensure that examination boards for the AVCE course in engineering are able to evaluate the course content that students have studied.

Margaret Hodge: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is monitoring all new AVCE qualifications, including engineering, as part of its remit to review the performance of the awarding bodies in delivering qualifications. AVCE courses give students suitable opportunities to achieve grades to enable them to follow their chosen career paths, including progression to employment, higher education or further training such as modern apprenticeships.
	QCA's work in monitoring the work of awarding bodies includes ensuring that qualifications are suitable for purpose and that students have the opportunity to achieve grades which reflect their achievement.
	The Secretary of State has not had discussions with the Chief Inspector on the subject in question. However, Ofsted Inspectors have programme of visits and inspections of schools and colleges to enable them to inspect standards. QCA held a two-day conference for awarding body chief examiners in November 2001.
	AVCE qualifications have been designed to ensure that they are fully comparable with GCE A levels. QCA is charged with the task of maintaining standards of assessment and ensuring that it is consistent across all awarding bodies.
	QCA and departmental officials have visited FE colleges to discuss the AVCE engineering course assessment.
	Awarding bodies provide training and guidance to examiners on assessment. QCA is working with the awarding bodies to ensure that this training and guidance is appropriate and effective and that assessment gives a fair appraisal of students' achievement.

Special Needs

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent in total by local education authorities on transport for special needs pupils in the latest year for which figures are available.

Ivan Lewis: Provisional figures for 2000–01, the latest year for which figures are available, show that £245.2 million was spent by local education authorities on transport for pupils with special education needs.

Special Needs

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the funding allocations for special educational needs (a) in the east midlands and (b) in Nottinghamshire are in 2002–03; and what the average is in England.

Stephen Timms: Local education authorities' budget statements contain information about the notional allocations made to schools for pupils with special educational needs and the funding retained centrally by the authority. The Department is in the process of collecting data relating to the 2002–03 financial year. I shall write to my hon. Friend when the information is to hand.

London Weighting

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to equalise the London weighting allowance for staff working in further education and tertiary colleges.

Margaret Hodge: General further education colleges and sixth form colleges are independent corporations and determine their own staff pay and allowance policies. The allowances will, therefore, vary from college to college and the Government have no plans to change this.

Playground Safety

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures she has introduced to improve the safety of playgrounds at (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Stephen Timms: The Department's publication "School Grounds, A Guide to Good Practice", contains detailed advice on design and management. This includes guidance on safety issues in school playgrounds.
	While there is not any specific funding for upgrading playgrounds, the Government's capital investment in schools in England has risen from £683 million in 1997–98 to £3 billion in the current year (2002–03), and will rise to £3.5 billion next year (2003–04). Local education authorities and schools may draw on this funding for projects which improve playground safety.

Nursery Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children are in maintained nursery education.

Margaret Hodge: The available information on the number of three and four-year-old children in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools is shown in the table.
	The figures for three and four-year-olds in schools and private and voluntary providers were published in Statistical Bulletin 11/01 "Provision for children under five years of age in England—January 2001" which is available at www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/ and from the Library.
	
		Number and percentage of three and four-year-olds(11),(12) in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools: England—1997–2001 -- Position in January each year
		
			  Number(13) Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 367,400 29 
			 1998 368,400 29 
			 1999 366,900 30 
			 2000 362,700 30 
			 2001(14) — — 
		
	
	(11) Head count of children aged three and four at 31 December in the previous calendar year, rounded to the nearest 100.
	(12) Numbers of three and four-year-olds may include some two-year-olds.
	(13) Number attending provider expressed as a percentage of three and four-year-old population.
	(14) This information is not available for 2001 due to the transition to new methods of data collection.

Information and Communication Technology

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the recent Ofsted report on ICT in schools.

Stephen Timms: We welcome the report, it shows that National Grid for Learning (NGfL) and New Opportunities Fund (NOF) initiatives along with sustained standards fund spending is making a real impact on both standards of teaching and the willingness of teachers to embrace ICT. We particularly welcome the report's confirmation that Government funding of ICT resources through the NGfL continues to make an important contribution to the development of the ICT curriculum and the use of new technologies in schools, and the recognition that this is beginning to impact on teaching and learning.
	The report acknowledges that the existence of the NOF programme has raised the profile of ICT training in many schools and it has helped teachers to improve their ICT skills significantly. However, we recognise that the report also raises concerns that this has not had as widespread an effect on classroom practice as intended, or as might reasonably be expected at this stage of the programme. We will be working with NOF and the Teacher Training Agency to ensure that the concerns are addressed and that we establish the most effective support for teachers who are crucial to the successful implementation of the overall programme. We also note, however, that the report recognises the excellent take up of this training and we look forward to increased evidence of impact as more schools complete their training.
	The report highlights personal access as one of the strongest influences toward successful training and classroom usage. We have provided over 50,000 teachers with PCs through various Government initiatives over the past few years, of which around 32,000 have been supplied via the Computers for Teachers Scheme. The current £100 million Laptops for Teachers scheme will supply a further 100,000 teachers with computers from September 2002. Our Curriculum Online project will enable online access to digital learning materials that are easily accessible to teachers and which they can use to support the teaching across the curriculum.

Protection Rackets (Schools)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information she has collated about the presence of protection rackets in secondary schools involving teenage pupils.

Ivan Lewis: We do not specifically collect any information about the presence of protection rackets in secondary schools involving teenage pupils.

Teacher Numbers (Worcestershire)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers were in service in Worcestershire in (a) January 2001 and (b) January 2002.

Stephen Timms: There were 4,430 full-time equivalent teachers in service in the maintained schools sector in Worcestershire in January 2001.
	Data for January 2002 are not yet available at local education authority level.
	Information on teachers in service in January 2002 by local education authority will be published in the Teachers in England statistical volume in December 2002.
	Part-time teachers have been converted to an estimate of their full-time equivalence and added to full-time numbers.

Teachers' Pensions

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the annual percentage increase in teachers' pensions is in the next financial year.

Stephen Timms: Teachers' pensions, in common with all other public service pensions, are increased in line with the retail prices index. Increases are confirmed in the annual Pensions (Increase) Review Orders: the increase for the financial year 2002–03, as specified in the 2002 order, is 1.7 per cent. The order confirming the increase for 2003–04 will be published next spring.

Teachers' Pensions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers applied for medically-supported retirement for the Teachers' Pension Scheme in each of the last three years; and what the average time to reach a decision on these applications was.

Stephen Timms: The numbers of applications for ill health retirement by members of the Teachers' Pension Scheme (which covers schools, FE and some HE and independent establishments) in each of the last three years were:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1999–2000 4,394 
			 2000–01 4,388 
			 2001–02 4,270 
		
	
	The scheme administrator and the contracted medical advisers work to agreed service levels for actioning cases at the different stages in the process. The target is to process applications within 25 working days (cumulative). Current performance reports show that the target is achieved in 98 per cent. of cases. Periods during which cases are in abeyance pending receipt of additional information to enable a decision to be reached (most frequently further medical reports) are not included in the 25 day target.

University Requirements

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what requirements have been (a) placed on and (b) removed from universities in the last year for which information is available.

Margaret Hodge: Universities in England comply with statutory and Regulatory requirements approved by Parliament as well as conditions of grant set by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and requirements placed on them by a number of professional bodies.
	During 2001–02 no additional statutory requirements were placed on higher education institutions by this Department. The Student Support Regulations for 2001–02 replaced those for 2000–01, but these have not appreciably changed the burden on institutions.
	The Secretary of State's priorities for the higher education sector are disseminated annually through her grant letter to HEFCE each November. Some of these priorities, when implemented by the Funding Council, will result in requirements being placed on higher education institutions.
	During this same period, consultations on a new method of quality review in institutions were undertaken and new arrangements will be in place from 2002. This represents a significant reduction in review activity carried out at institutions.

Key Stage 2

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will review the revised targets for Key Stage 2 national tests for 2004.

Stephen Timms: Primary school standards have improved considerably since 1997, and we are committed to raising standards further. We have set challenging targets for 2004, that 85 per cent. of 11-year-olds should achieve the expected standard, level 4, and that 35 per cent. should achieve level 5. We are confident that we will see further improvements in the Key Stage 2 results this year, which will provide a good platform for achieving the 2004 targets.

Teachers

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many local authorities operate their own schemes to supply teaching staff to schools; and if she will list the authorities which do not operate schemes to provide teaching staff to schools.

Stephen Timms: This information is not collected centrally. However, most local education authorities support schools in a variety of ways to find supply cover, and to recruit teachers. This includes traditional supply lists, preferred agency suppliers, and full agency-type operations. The Quality Mark for supply teacher agencies announced on 2 May will assist LEAs in identifying options for their schools. 97 recruitment strategy managers are attached to LEAs, co-ordinating recruitment and retention strategies.

School Governors

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new requirements have (a) been removed from and (b) been placed on school governors in the last year for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: We have recently introduced a gatekeeping system to help assess and manage proposals for giving new responsibilities to governing bodies. The information in the form requested will not be available until the gatekeeping system has bedded in.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter of 12 March from the hon. Member for Walsall, North regarding St. Thomas More School, Willenhall.

Stephen Timms: The hon. Member's letter of 12 March was not received in the Department until 19 April. I replied on 9 May.

National Curriculum

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of 14 year old (a) boys and (b) girls reached level 5 in national curriculum tests in (i) English, (b) mathematics and (c) science in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: The table shows the percentage of pupils who achieved level 5 or above in the Key Stage 3 tests in England in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(15) 
		
		
			 English  
			 Boys 48 56 55 55 56 
			 Girls 67 73 73 73 73 
			 All 57 65 64 64 64 
			 Mathematics  
			 Boys 60 60 62 64 65 
			 Girls 60 59 62 65 67 
			 All 60 59 62 65 66 
			 Science  
			 Boys 61 57 55 61 66 
			 Girls 60 55 55 58 66 
			 All 60 56 55 59 66 
		
	
	(15) 2001 data are provisional.

National Curriculum

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of (a) boys and (b) girls reached level 4 in national curriculum tests in (i) English, (ii) mathematics and (iii) science in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: The table shows the percentage of pupils who achieved level 4 or above in the Key Stage 2 tests in England in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
	
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001(16) 
		
		
			 English  
			 Boys 57 57 65 70 70 
			 Girls 70 73 76 79 80 
			 All 63 65 71 75 75 
			 Mathematics  
			 Boys 63 59 69 72 71 
			 Girls 61 58 69 71 70 
			 All 62 59 69 72 71 
			 Science  
			 Boys 68 70 79 84 87 
			 Girls 69 69 78 85 88 
			 All 69 69 78 85 87 
		
	
	(16) 2001 data are provisional.

Pupil Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of (a) capital and (b) revenue spending was for (i) primary school pupils and (ii) secondary school pupils in each LEA in England in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is contained in the tables, which have been placed in the Library.

Pupil Funding

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average amount of (a) capital and (b) revenue spending per pupil was in specialist schools in England in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: Information on all capital and recurrent spending in specialist schools is not held centrally. The following table details the additional funding per pupil allocated to schools as a result of their designation as a specialist school:
	
		Specialist schools capital and recurrent allocations expressed as £ per pupil
		
			   1998–99  1999–2000  2000–01  2001–02  2002–03  
			 LEA Cap. Rev. Cap. Rev. Cap. Rev. Cap. Rev. Cap. Rev. 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham — 100 — 109 — 111 27 100 — 113 
			 Barnet — 105 30 95 — 109 — 109 23 103 
			 Barnsley — — 118 72 — 121 — 123 — 123 
			 Bath and north-east Somerset — 110 50 85 20 106 — 116 20 111 
			 Bedfordshire — — 77 47 — 96 — 107 56 84 
			 Bexley — 110 — 112 — 122 — 123 44 85 
			 Birmingham — 105 36 84 45 87 36 113 4 135 
			 Blackburn and Darwen — — 70 151 — 91 — 127 — 130 
			 Blackpool — 100 48 92 — 116 — 112 29 94 
			 Bolton — 45 99 71 55 83 19 99 — 112 
			 Bournemouth — 100 — 75 83 68 — 97 — 110 
			 Bracknell Forest — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Bradford — 99 28 87 29 100 26 108 — 128 
			 Brent — 110 — 112 — 122 26 102 21 108 
			 Brighton and Hove 100 60 — 105 36 82 — 106 34 85 
			 Bristol — 49 — 112 47 91 32 100 38 93 
			 Bromley — 110 — 103 — 106 16 98 13 99 
			 Buckinghamshire 23 100 — 105 19 104 43 95 9 105 
			 Bury — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Calderdale — 110 — 109 — 79 74 63 42 91 
			 Cambridgeshire — 94 48 77 — 106 34 119 — 134 
			 Camden — 100 30 94 22 97 — 108 — 108 
			 Cheshire 32 92 22 100 19 104 18 112 40 97 
			 City of London — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Cornwall 38 97 — 103 9 105 22 101 — 111 
			 Coventry 22 90 — 43 17 102 — 102 — 111 
			 Croydon 112 62 — 106 — 116 — 114 82 86 
			 Cumbria 38 61 — 95 19 106 35 99 10 110 
			 Darlington — 52 52 156 46 116 30 112 — 123 
			 Derby, City of — 76 — 98 44 81 27 95 — 108 
			 Derbyshire 23 98 — 111 20 102 43 86 — 112 
			 Devon 11 85 — 93 — 97 — 108 17 97 
			 Doncaster — — — — — — — — 45 65 
			 Dorset — 101 50 87 37 104 13 106 12 113 
			 Dudley — 100 — 110 — 120 — 123 73 79 
			 Durham 133 121 30 79 17 98 9 119 8 120 
			 Ealing — 78 39 71 28 95 32 92 13 102 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 39 88 — 106 34 88 14 103 12 106 
			 East Sussex 35 84 — 104 38 91 35 94 34 93 
			 Enfield — 45 — — — — — — — — 
			 Essex 8 92 15 95 20 99 16 100 11 106 
			 Gateshead 39 75 36 71 — 99 14 98 — 105 
			 Gloucestershire 18 101 37 94 17 103 15 106 27 105 
			 Greenwich 36 82 — 76 18 78 — 160 25 147 
			 Hackney 61 79 61 91 — 120 23 110 — 121 
			 Halton — — — — 90 67 58 95 — 117 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham — — — — 100 74 — 107 — 107 
			 Hampshire — 105 — 104 43 65 16 123 46 94 
			 Haringey — 100 — 104 — 107 — 107 82 127 
			 Harrow — — — — — — — — 304 205 
			 Hartlepool 121 60 — 112 51 86 — 113 27 96 
			 Havering — 53 — 112 — 122 48 95 30 98 
			 Herefordshire — 100 52 95 — 115 — 112 — 112 
			 Hertfordshire 38 87 19 96 26 104 28 102 27 103 
			 Hillingdon 46 91 31 93 — 109 — 109 — 109 
			 Hounslow 49 78 — 104 — 106 — 104 27 90 
			 Isle of Wight — 50 — 112 46 90 29 72 — 106 
			 Isles of Scilly — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Islington — — — — 111 68 — 113 — 113 
			 Kensington and Chelsea — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kent — 108 22 94 9 107 22 106 23 103 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull — — 61 44 49 94 — 80 — 106 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Kirklees 24 111 17 101 — 114 — 114 — 114 
			 Knowsley 142 60 — 112 60 97 32 96 — 115 
			 Lambeth 78 88 — 112 42 103 — 109 — 123 
			 Lancashire 7 104 7 105 12 108 13 113 16 109 
			 Leeds 43 73 27 81 46 89 26 122 18 115 
			 Leicester City — — 95 60 31 95 18 93 — 111 
			 Leicestershire 28 102 17 89 — 103 15 107 7 107 
			 Lewisham — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Lincolnshire 17 85 83 433 43 91 43 94 20 115 
			 Liverpool 19 94 — 98 15 95 31 93 17 101 
			 Luton — 110 35 67 — 105 — 107 — 77 
			 Manchester 23 90 — 109 38 95 — 114 11 108 
			 Medway — 61 — 93 31 96 23 104 — 115 
			 Merton — — — — — — — — — — 
			 Middlesbrough — — — — — — 94 70 — 116 
			 Milton Keynes 69 66 — 79 — 100 — 110 — 110 
			 North-east Lincolnshire — — — — 61 53 — 196 — 94 
			 Newcastle 22 108 — 88 31 84 — 108 — 108 
			 Newham 45 124 — 83 — 100 30 92 — 108 
			 Norfolk 31 102 22 98 43 84 15 104 13 105 
			 North Lincolnshire — — — 112 54 98 34 103 29 113 
			 North Somerset 102 60 43 78 41 84 17 103 13 101 
			 North Tyneside 64 132 — 112 — 122 28 111 — 123 
			 North Yorkshire 93 86 — 74 35 89 30 125 12 130 
			 Northamptonshire 13 110 17 97 14 101 — 107 6 105 
			 Northumberland 35 114 — 99 43 99 12 110 — 116 
			 Nottingham, City of — 42 — 112 — 118 — 116 24 92 
			 Nottinghamshire 40 68 — 83 — 99 17 98 57 91 
			 Oldham — — — — 85 68 — 113 44 91 
			 Oxfordshire 22 106 13 83 11 97 16 89 — 110 
			 Peterborough, City of — — — 112 — 118 39 86 25 94 
			 Plymouth — 100 27 56 30 64 — 88 23 160 
			 Poole — — — — — — 86 68 36 106 
			 Portsmouth — — — — — — 79 62 41 84 
			 Reading — — — 111 — 108 — 98 — 109 
			 Redbridge — 100 — 98 26 90 32 91 — 107 
			 Redcar and Cleveland — 91 — 96 — 102 — 103 37 82 
			 Richmond — — — — — — — — 101 73 
			 Rochdale 30 72 — 94 — 110 22 104 — 115 
			 Rotherham 49 82 — 107 — 114 41 87 — 113 
			 Rutland — 110 — 112 — 121 — 123 59 97 
			 Salford — — 184 72 55 86 — 111 — 111 
			 Sandwell 68 63 — 97 — 111 — 115 — 115 
			 Sefton 42 85 — 97 26 91 — 110 43 103 
			 Sheffield 22 79 — 92 — 104 44 88 17 102 
			 Shropshire — 106 — 94 — 105 74 79 47 95 
			 Slough — — — 112 — 122 130 235 53 165 
			 Solihull — 93 — 97 — 104 — 106 27 91 
			 Somerset 64 85 24 103 36 111 14 113 30 104 
			 South Gloucestershire 35 555 24 70 — 98 — 107 — 107 
			 South Tyneside — 100 — 97 — 99 — 105 — 105 
			 Southampton — — — — — — — — 96 71 
			 Southend on Sea — — 83 60 — 100 70 88 27 104 
			 Southwark — 100 — 40 — — 112 74 55 98 
			 St. Helens — — — — 79 67 24 96 — 110 
			 Staffordshire 31 70 — 106 — 109 37 84 35 94 
			 Stockport — — — 93 — 102 — 105 — 105 
			 Stockton — — 122 86 — 113 — 111 — 112 
			 Stoke on Trent — — — — 127 74 76 84 — 115 
			 Suffolk 60 103 21 110 26 101 32 99 — 115 
			 Sunderland — 111 58 79 — 111 21 98 — 110 
			 Surrey 19 92 — 98 8 103 13 102 17 104 
			 Sutton — 110 — 102 — 107 — 108 — 108 
			 Swindon — — 103 70 — 114 — 108 — 108 
			 Tameside — 55 — 112 44 88 — 110 — 110 
			 Telford and Wrekin — — — 110 — 120 — 123 — 123 
			 Thurrock — — — — — — 100 74 45 89 
			 Torbay — — — 112 — 120 — 121 44 89 
			 Tower Hamlets 60 77 — 112 39 107 25 102 — 101 
			 Trafford 58 142 — 106 — 110 40 97 17 90 
			 Wakefield — 90 — 86 25 87 15 90 20 95 
			 Walsall — 110 54 80 — 108 29 90 24 103 
			 Waltham Forest — 110 — 109 43 94 33 103 — 113 
			 Wandsworth — 100 — 91 16 79 — 146 — 148 
			 Warrington 37 122 — 79 25 90 — 111 19 104 
			 Warwickshire 63 90 34 85 44 95 — 115 34 95 
			 West Berkshire — 110 23 115 — 99 28 103 — 109 
			 West Sussex 42 104 — 91 9 98 — 108 20 98 
			 Westminster 156 60 — 112 — 122 56 96 — 123 
			 Wigan 23 112 15 97 13 109 — 111 — 111 
			 Wiltshire 50 83 — 102 43 87 10 107 — 112 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead — — — — — — — — 92 68 
			 Wirral 41 84 — 97 28 94 34 93 14 100 
			 Wokingham — — 85 61 — 101 46 90 — 112 
			 Wolverhampton — 101 — 96 42 103 — 129 — 129 
			 Worcestershire — 44 65 68 16 98 26 104 21 105 
			 York, City of 38 78 — 101 21 75 — 88 — 89 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Specialist schools receive a one-off grant of £100,000 in their first year of designation for a capital project to support their specialist schools development plan. This matches the minimum £50,000 sponsorship which they are required to raise from the private sector when they apply for specialist school designation.
	2. In addition, an annual grant is available for the four years of specialist school designation to support the costs of implementing the development plan. Assuming schools are successful in meeting the targets they set out in their initial application they can apply for re-designation for a further three years.
	3. The annual grant is currently calculated at a rate of £123 per pupil up to 1,000 and over 1,200 pupils (special schools designated as specialist schools are funded at five times this rate). Funding in 1998–99 was calculated at the rate of £100 per pupil up to 1,000 pupils and this was increased to £120 per pupil in September 1999 to allow schools to develop the community element of their development plans. A further rise of £3 per pupil was implemented in September 2000.
	4. The 2002–03 figures do not include schools that are currently being considered in the March 2002 competition.

HEALTH

Christmas Trees

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of potential risks to health caused by the chemical treatment of trees used as Christmas trees.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has made no assessment to the potential risks.

Locum Doctors

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his strategy is to boost the numbers of locum doctors available in (a) primary and (b) secondary care; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: It is the responsibility of primary care trusts and NHS trusts to identify their own need for locum doctors in the primary and secondary care sectors respectively. It is accepted that locum doctors are an essential part of the NHS workforce.
	However, the focus of our plans to increase the size of the medical workforce is to increase the number of permanent doctors. Following the spending review settlement announced by the Chancellor in the Budget we have committed ourselves in "Delivering the NHS Plan" to increasing the medical workforce by at least 15,000 more consultants and GPs by 2008. This is on top of the 9,550 increase in doctors in the NHS since 1997.

Food Standards Agency

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the programme to improve business efficiency, referred to on page 41 of the 2001 report of the Food Standards Agency.

Yvette Cooper: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to develop ways of improving organisational performance through a co-ordinated programme of activity designed to improve business efficiency.
	A major programme of staff training and development to ensure staff have the knowledge and skills to deliver a higher level of performance in meeting the FSA's business needs commenced in 2001. This provides the basis for the successful delivery of the other strands of the efficiency programme.
	The programme to improve business efficiency also encompasses the implementation of an effective procurement strategy, development and implementation of an e-strategy including the launch of a new 'user-friendly' website, and a critical appraisal of research programmes and management systems. A comprehensive information technology/information systems strategy has been developed leading to the re-letting of the FSA's IT system support contract.

Dental Therapists

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when restrictions on dental therapists' rights to work throughout the dentistry sector are due to be lifted;
	(2)  what efforts are being made to recruit and retain dental therapists in the NHS.

John Hutton: The Dental Auxiliaries Regulations 1986 need to be amended by affirmative resolution to permit dental therapists to work in all fields of dentistry. We have now laid amending regulations before Parliament and they are to be debated during May. A much wider range of employment opportunities will become available to dental therapists once the restriction is removed which will make careers in dental therapy more attractive. In planning training commissions in the future we would expect workforce development confederations to take account of the contribution that dental therapists can make to dental services.

Speech Therapists

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons why some NHS trusts listed in the answer of 18 April 2002, Official Report, column 1185W, on speech therapists, are omitted from the list of NHS trusts deposited in the Library following the answer of 2 May 2002, Official Report, column 991W.

John Hutton: The information placed in the Library lists all trusts who employ speech and language therapists.
	The vacancy rates for Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust and Tower Hamlets Healthcare NHS trust were not included because of doubts about data quality. Both trusts recently indicated that their vacancies as at 31 March 2001 were considerably lower than they had originally reported to the Department. Rates for a number of other trusts are not given where the sum of staff in post and vacancies is less than 10.

Delegated Legislation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of the Retained Organs Commission Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Treatment Agency Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service Appointments Commission Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 2 (England) and Transitional Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for Newcastle University Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for St. George's Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(9)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Isles of Scilly (Primary Care) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(10)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Restriction on Pithing (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(11)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) Revocation Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(12)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Medicines for Human Use and Medical Devices (Fees and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(13)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(14)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Former United Birmingham Hospitals (Transfer of Trust Property) No. 2 Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(15)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(16)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Act 1999 (Commencement No. 10) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(17)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities and Administration Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(18)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(19)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(20)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Isles of Scilly (Health) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(21)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Disabled Children (Direct Payments) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(22)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Trustees for the North and East Devon Health Authority (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(23)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Membership and Procedure) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(24)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(25)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for St. Bartholomew's Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(26)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(27)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(28)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(29)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(30)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(31)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(32)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Trustees for the Central Sheffield University Hospitals National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(33)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health Care National Health Service Trust (Change of Name) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(34)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(35)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(36)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(37)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Birmingham Children's Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(38)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(39)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(40)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (No. 3) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(41)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the University Hospital Birmingham National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(42)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Carers (Services) and Direct Payments (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(43)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for the Royal London Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(44)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Trustees for the Royal Brompton and Harefield National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(45)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 4) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(46)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Charges) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(47)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(48)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Special Trustees for King's College Hospital (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(49)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Trustees for the Northern General Hospital National Health Service Trust (Transfer of Trust Property) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(50)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Functions) (England) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(51)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Pensions Scheme and Additional Voluntary Contributions) (Pension Sharing) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(52)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the South Tees Acute Hospitals National Health Service Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(53)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the North Mersey Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(54)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 6) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(55)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Adoption of Children from Overseas Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(56)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Lowestoft Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(57)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Gelatine (Intra-Community Trade) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(58)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Southampton East Healthcare Primary Care Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(59)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Adoption (Inter-Country Aspects) Act 1999 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(60)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Southern Derbyshire Mental Health National Health Service Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(61)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 3) Regulation 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(62)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(63)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Blood Authority (Establishment and Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(64)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Patient Safety Agency Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(65)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(66)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Retained Organs Commission (Establishment and Constitution) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(67)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Southampton Community Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(68)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Act 1999 (Commencement No. 11) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(69)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Residential Accommodation (Relevant Premises Ordinary Residence and Exemptions) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(70)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Chiropractors Act 1994 (Commencement Order No. 5 and Transitional Provision) 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(71)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the General Social Care Council (Appointments and Procedure) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(72)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Daventry and South Northamptonshire Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(73)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Medicines (Aristolochia and Mu Tong etc.) (Prohibition) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(74)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Uttlesford Primary Care Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(75)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Functions of Health Authorities) (General Dental Services Incentive Scheme) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(76)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Rotherham Priority Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(77)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the North Sefton and West Lancashire Community National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(78)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Miscellaneous Food Additives (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(79)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(80)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(81)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Disregarding of Resources) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(82)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(83)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Homes Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(84)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 7) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(85)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Preserved Rights (Transfer of Responsibilities to Local Authorities) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(86)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (No. 3) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(87)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No. 4) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(88)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 8) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(89)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Abolition of the NHS Tribunal (Consequential Provisions) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(90)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Colours in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(91)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 3) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(92)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(93)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Lowestoft Primary Care Trust Change of Name and (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(94)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Registration) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(95)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 7) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(96)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Treatment Agency (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(97)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services and Misuse of Drugs) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(98)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) (Electronic Communications) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(99)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 10 (England) and Transitional Savings and Amendment Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(100)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Medicines (Sale or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(101)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 5) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(102)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Children's Homes Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(103)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Trusts (Applications and Consultation) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(104)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Procedure) Rules 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(105)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Data Protection (Subject Access) (Fees and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(106)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Feeding Stuffs and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(107)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No 2) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(108)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Children (Leaving Care) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(109)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Amendment (No 3) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(110)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 6) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(111)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(112)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Private and Voluntary Health Care (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(113)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Southern Norfolk Primary Care Trust (Establishment) (Amendment) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(114)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Medicines (Products Other than Veterinary Drugs) (General Sales List) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(115)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(116)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 6) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(117)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Prescription Only Medicines (Human Use) Amendment (No. 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(118)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority (Primary Care Act) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(119)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Mental Health Act 1983 (Remedial) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(120)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Additional Payments) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(121)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Prescription only Medicines (Human Use) (Electronic Communications) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(122)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(123)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Foster Placement (Children) and Adoption Agencies Amendment (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(124)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 (Commencement No 1) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(125)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Relevant Contributions) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(126)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Southampton Community Health Services National Health Service Trust (Establishment) Amendment (No 2) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(127)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(128)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Applications for Registration and Fees) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(129)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(130)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Road Traffic (NHS Charges) Amendment Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(131)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Care Standards Act 2000 (Commencement No. 9 (England) and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement.
	(132)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Service Medicines (Information on the Prices of Specified Generic Medicines) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(133)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Optical Charges and Payments) and (General Ophthalmic Services) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(134)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 4) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(135)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Medical Services Supplementary List) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement.
	(136)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Assistance (Residential Accommodation) (Additional Payments and Assessment of Resources) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(137)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Specified Risk Material (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(138)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the North Middlesex Hospital National Health Service Trust (Change of Name) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(139)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Sweeteners in Food (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(140)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Commencement No. 1) (England) Order 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(141)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (General Dental Services) Amendment (No. 5) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(142)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Primary Care Trusts (Membership, Procedure and Administration Arrangements) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(143)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service (Dental Charges) Amendment (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(144)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the National Health Service Trusts (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(145)  what assessment he has made of the cost- effectiveness of the Health Authorities (Membership and Procedure) Amendment (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Costs associated with regulatory proposals are considered at the policy development stage. A regulatory impact assessment (RIA) is completed for regulatory proposals unless there are no or negligible costs, and sets out the impact, in terms of costs, benefits and risks of the proposed regulation which could affect businesses, charities or the voluntary sector. RIAs are available from the Library.